Statins such as Lipitor and Crestor are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. Their effectiveness in lowering LDL cholesterol has been firmly established; however, the overall impact upon the health of those using statins is questionable. Serious side effects such as liver damage, cataracts, muscle pain and renal failure have been known for some time, but thought to be rare; however recent evaluation of statin use outcomes reveals that the risks may in fact outweigh the benefits. Is the practice of prescribing statins as a preventative measure for individuals with borderline LDL likely to cause more harm than good? Perhaps, exercise, good diet and plant sterol supplements should be the vigorously endorsed as the frontline treatment, prior to any consideration of statin therapy.
What the Latest Statin Research Reveals
In May 2010, the British Medical Journal published the results of a comprehensive and authoritative study. The researchers analyzed data related to statin use in 2,004,692 people, ages 30 to 84, over a six-year period. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that there is greater risk of harm from use of statins than there is benefit. However, one of the greatest injuries appears to be cataracts. Is now routine and low risk cataract surgery preferable to a greater risk of CVD? The link to decreased incidence of heart disease is confirmed in this study, particularly in high-risk patients. The authors do not make any conclusive statements regarding prescription of statins apart from suggesting that lower doses for high-risk individuals are supported. Also, they note that once statin use is discontinued, harmful implications soon disappear. Certainly, if nothing else, more careful monitoring of side effects in statin patients is warranted. A separate review of controlled trials published by the Cochrane Heart Group, Statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease , recommends "...that caution should be taken in prescribing statins for primary prevention among people at low cardiovascular risk. "The impact of using statins such as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor are as follows:
Averaged out of 10,000 female cases
High-risk Cases (female)
- 271 fewer cases of heart disease
- 8 fewer cases of esophogeal cancer
- 279 total benefit
- 228 fewer cases of heart disease
- 7 fewer cases of esophogeal cancer
- 235 total benefit
- 74 cases of liver disfunction
- 23 cases of accute renal (kidney) failure
- 39 instances of myopathy (muscle weakness)
- 307 cataracts
- 443 total harmful effects
- 65cases of liver disfunction
- 17 cases of accute renal (kidney) failure
- 32 instances of myopathy (muscle weakness)
- 252 cataracts
- 366 total harmful effects
High-risk Cases (male)
- 301 fewer heart disease
- 8 fewer esophogeal cancer
- 309 total benefit
- 265 fewer heart disease
- 8 fewer esophogeal cancer
- 273 total benefit
- 71 liver disfunction
- 29 renal failure
- 110 myopathy
- 191 cataracts
- 401 total harmful effects
- 64 liver disfunction
- 22 renal failure
- 95 myopathy
- 151 cataracts
- 332 total harmful effects
Non-medicinal life style changes are effective at reducing cholesterol levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Other benefits include improved self-esteem, bone strength, higher energy levels, stress reduction, susceptibility to some types of cancer, strengthened immunity, and more. The Mayo Clinic describes five lifestyle changes: lose weight, eat low fat high fiber foods, stop smoking, exercise regularly, and consume alcohol in moderation.
Functional Foods such as those enhanced with plant sterols have been shown to significantly reduce LDL cholesterol. In a Global News story, January of 2011, Dr Peter Jones of the Richardson Centre for Functional Foods, at the University of Manitoba, explains that a type of plant cholesterol called "sterols" removes bad cholesterol from the human body "We know that 1.5 to 2.5 grams a day - which can be obtained in one serving of a spread of a yogurt or other foods, will reduce your LDL (that is your bad cholesterol level) by 10 per cent."
The United States Food and Drug Administration claims that "Scientific evidence demonstrates that diets that include plant sterol/stanol esters may reduce the risk of CHD." and "The scientific evidence establishes that including plant sterol/stanol esters in the diet helps to lower blood total and LDL cholesterol levels." (CHD is Coronary Heart Disease)
Because a normal healthy diet is an insufficient source of sterols, considerable scientific effort, as at the Richardson Centre, has been directed towards food supplements. Sterol enhanced products are beginning to appear in grocery stores in products such as margarine and yogurt, with others in development.
It is Apparent that Statins are Over-prescribed
Statins are becoming increasingly pervasive; non-prescription versions are appearing on pharmacy shelves, while pharmaceutical companies rake in profits and engage in massive advertising campaigns promoting these drugs. Meanwhile recent research has revealed that statistically, incidents of harm related to statin use are greater than those of benefit. Cataracts, which are less serious do skew the ratio somewhat; however the tally of serious liver and kidney effects is still significant. Also, conclusions derived from these studies inform that currently prescribed statin doses are too high for high-risk patients and that these drugs should be not by dispensed to patients with low risk of CVD. There is clear evidence that non-pharmaceutical intervention is highly effective in lowering cholesterol and CVD, both as a supplement to statins in higher risk individuals and as primary treatment for those with low risk. Popping a pill is a lot easier that lifestyle changes, but at what cost?
**Please note that this article is informational only and not intended as medical advice.
References:
Unintended effects of statins in men and women in England and Wales: population based cohort study, using the QResearch database BMJ 2010; 340:c2197
Statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (Review), The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd., 2011
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