Some time ago I spent a week swotting up about cholesterol for a family member, which also resulted in a post about what I had learned about changing your diet to reduce your “bad” cholesterol levels (LDL) and increase your “good” cholesterol levels (HDL).
For now, let’s put aside the issue of whether it is actually a good idea to have low cholesterol, on which there is recent research suggesting that this may not be the case.
Humans are inherently lazy, well most are anyway. The pharmaceutical industry has recognised this and creates drugs that will do anything since the easiest solution to a problem is to pop a pill. In the field of managing (lowering) cholesterol the pharmaceutical industry has provided us with statins.
What are statins?
Wikipedia explains this in great detail. In summary though, statins are a drug that inhibits the rate-limiting enzyme for cholesterol synthesis. Inhibiting the enzyme in the liver decreases the synthesis of cholesterol. At the same time, the statins also increase synthesis of the receptors that collect LDL from the body.
It is worth considering for a moment that the statins are essentially preventing the body from doing something that it does as a matter of course (creating cholesterol) and elevating the rate at which is does a controlling action (synthesis of receptors). The human body is a fascinating and wonderful machine that, when cared for properly, will function effectively and will usually keep itself in a fine-tuned balance. The actions of the statins seem to be pulling in both directions away from the fine balance point for cholesterol control that is naturally created by the body.
Are statins good?
Statins are seen by many in the medical profession as the solution to high cholesterol problems, with any issues being significantly out-weighed by the positives. Clinical trials suggested that there is very little chance of few side-effects, though real life use has suggested that this may not necessarily be the case.
However, statins have also been noted to have various other positive effects including:
- possible reductions of vertebral and hip fractures;
- reduce inflammation, including reduced inflammation in brochial passages which assists asthma sufferers;
- reduction of blood-clotting agents, reducing risk of heart attack;
- a study published in Junethis year, showed that taking statins significantly reduced the risk of all cause mortality, major coronary events, and major cerebrovascular events, with no increase in cancer risk
Side effects of statins
With so many benefits, shouldn’t we all be taking statins?
The medical practice will tell you that very few people suffer from side effects. For anyone prescribed statins, compulsory reading so that they can make an informed decision should include the article on the Second Opinions website. The article not only breaks down the likely side effects of statins, but also includes extracts from a study concluding that patients struggled to get the medical practice to believe that they had any side effects or that the problems could have been caused by the statins.
The Weston A Price Foundation have also done a detailed report on the dangers of statin drugsthat is also well worth reading if you have been prescribed statins.
Some of the most commonly reported side effects of using statins include:
- amnesia;
- senility;
- chronic fatigue; and
- myopathy (muscular weakness which is likely to cause some side effects of its own).
Let’s also remember that reduced cholesterol can compromise the immune system and lower sex hormones.
Even more frightening are the studies that suggest that statins may continue to affect your body for ten years after you stop taking them (though this could just be the time it takes for plaque levels to build up again). That can’t be good for your body.
Would I take them?
In a word, no.
If you are determined to reduce your LDL levels I think there are other ways to manage your cholesterol which are equally effective. Most dietary techniques, while potentially taking longer to get the desired result, will give you a longer-lasting reduction to your LDL levels and will be more sustainable in the long term.
If someone takes statins to reduce their cholesterol but they don’t re-educate themselves in their diet then they will either have to remain on statins for the rest of their life, or their cholesterol levels will fluctuate wildly. It will depend on whether they are on a cycle of taking statins or not.
I’ve also got quite strong views about introducing unnatural components into my body unless it is strictly necessary. Since the evidence suggests that you can get the same effect without taking statins that would be my main approach.
Ultimately, I believe that the problem (if high cholesterol is really a problem) is best solved through education and changes to diet and exercise, as is the case with a lot of the problems suffered from today by those on a western diet.
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