Fwd: Polypill vs. Multivitamin

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Polypill vs. Multivitamin

Fri, 27 Jun 2003 13:14:57 -0700

 

 

 

British Doctors Claim Polypill (6-drugs-in-one-tablet) Would Reduce

Cardiovascular Risk by 80%; Good Multivitamin Would Accomplish More Without The

Cost And Side Effects

 

 

Graphic: British Medical Journal

 

 

 

Without a clinical trial, and borrowing from science that has already been

conducted, British researchers claimed today that " a once-a-day pill for

everyone over 55 could undo some of the ill-effects of a sedentary,

high-cholesterol, western lifestyle and slash the rate of strokes and heart

attacks by more than 80%. " [Guardian June 27, 2003; British Medical Journal

Volume 326, June 28, 2003]

 

Known as the " polypill, " it would combine five drugs (cholesterol-lowering

statin drug, diuretic water pill, calcium blocker, blood pressure pill, aspirin)

and one vitamin (folic acid) in a combo vita-drug that could put cardiologists

out of business, says the editor of the British Medical Journal which published

the report yesterday.

 

Calling its current issue " the most important in 50 years, " the British Medical

Journal heralded this bold approach even before it has been proven.

 

The authors of the polypill concept, who have filed for a patent on their idea,

claim it might add as much as 11 years of life to the over-55 population by

preventing strokes and heart attacks. The life lengthening benefits of the

polypill are questioned in some regards. For instance, the amount of statin drug

provided in polypill to reduce cholesterol may lower lipid profiles but has not

been found to reduce mortality rates. When higher doses of statin drugs are

used, which do reduce mortality, the incidence of side effects rise, some which

can be mortal. Statin drugs in the combo pill may reduce the risk of strokes and

heart attacks, but because two of the ingredients in the polypill reduce levels

of coenzyme Q10 needed for heart muscle energy, it may also increase the risk of

heart failure.

 

The authors claim that side effects would be minimal with polypill, even though

most of the drugs included in the polypill deplete the body of essential

nutrients. The thiazide water pill depletes the body of coenzyme Q10, magnesium

and potassium, all essential nutrients required for maintenance of normal heart

rhythm. It appears some of the ingredients in the polypill are needed just to

counter side effects and deficiencies caused by the cure-all pill itself. For

example, aspirin, one of the components of the polypill, depletes the body of

folic acid.

 

Replacement for some nutrients depleted by the drugs in the polypill, such as

coenzyme Q10, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C, are not even considered by its

inventors. Magnesium is a natural calcium blocker and would eliminate the need

for a synthetic drug. High-dose vitamin B6, not included in the polypill, could

replace the need for a blood pressure drug (angiotensin II receptor antagonist).

 

The originators of the polypill included folic acid in their combo pill to

reduce undesirably high levels of homocysteine, a protein that can build up in

the blood circulation and is associated with strokes and blood vessel disease.

Yet recent studies indicate vitamin B12 is also needed to effectively reduce

homocysteine, a vitamin that was not included in the polypill, but is included

in most multivitamins.

 

It is obvious that a well-designed multivitamin containing magnesium, potassium,

coenzyme Q10, folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin C in ample amounts

may equal or exceed the proposed benefits of the polypill and be more affordable

in third-world countries where the polypill is suggested for use. Many heart

attacks, in particular the sudden-death variety, are prompted by a shortage of

magnesium, which is a heart muscle relaxant. The omission of magnesium from the

polypill ingredients is a major oversight.

 

The addition of herbal ingredients such as Ginkgo biloba, green tea, ginger root

and bioflavonoids may further enhance the cardioprotective properties of a

multivitamin. ####

Copyright 2003 Not for commercial use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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