Cardiac surgery patients taking statins have a 24% increased risk of death

This study was published in Clinical Infectious Diseases 2009 Apr 1;48(7):e66-72

Study title and authors:
Preoperative statin use and infection after cardiac surgery: a cohort study.

Mohamed R, McAlister FA, Pretorius V, Kapoor AS, Majumdar SR, Ross DB, Norris CM
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19228110

This study explored the effects of preoperative statin use in adults who had undergone cardiac surgery. The study included 7,733 nontransplant cardiac surgery patients who were followed for 30 days.

The study found:
(a) Patients taking statins had a 24% increased risk of death compared to patients not taking statins.
(b) Patients taking statins had an 11% increased risk of death due to infection compared to patients not taking statins.
(c) Patients taking statins had an 8% increased risk of any infection compared to patients not taking statins.

 

 

Links to other studies:

Statin treatment increases the risk of death by 301% after balloon angioplasty

Statins should not be given to patients with heart failure

Statin use is associated with an 80% higher risk of multiple organ failure in severely injured blunt trauma patients

Cardiac surgery patients taking statins have a 42% increased risk of death

This study was published in the Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgergy 2012 Jul 13;7:39

Study title and authors:
Hemodynamic effects of peri-operative statin therapy in on-pump cardiac surgery patients.

Hinz J, Gehoff P, Schotola H, Hosseini MT, Didilis VN, Jebran AF, Gehoff A, Wiese CH, Schulz EG, Schoendube FA, Popov AF.
Department of Anaesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22533985

This study set out to investigate the effect of statin therapy on patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. (Cardiopulmonary bypass is a technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining the circulation of blood and the oxygen content of the body). The study included 478 patients who stayed in hospital for an average of 25 days. They were divided into (i) statin taking group (ii) non statin group.

The study found:
(a) Patients taking statins had a 42% increased risk of death whilst in hospital compared to patients not taking statins.
(b) The statin taking group had a significant 16% lower Systemic Vascular Resistance Index compared to the non statin group. (A decrease of Systemic Vascular Resistance Index is evidence for systemic inflammation).

  

Links to other studies:

Statin treatment is associated with a higher death rate and a higher risk of heart attack in angioplasty patients

Statins can damage the lining of blood vessels

Statin major adverse effects have been under-reported and the way in which they withheld from the public, and even concealed, is a scientific farce 



Statins users with existing coronary artery disease have a 15% increased risk of another heart attack

This study was published in Circulation Journal 2004 Jan;68(1):47-52

Study title and authors:
Insulin resistance and fasting hyperinsulinemia are risk factors for new cardiovascular events in patients with prior coronary artery disease and normal glucose tolerance.

Yanase M, Takatsu F, Tagawa T, Kato T, Arai K, Koyasu M, Horibe H, Nomoto S, Takemoto K, Shimizu S, Watarai M.
Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Aichi, Japan. yanase@kosei.anjo.aichi.jp

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14695465

This study investigated risk factors for further cardiovascular event in patients with existing coronary artery disease. The study lasted three years and included 102 patients with coronary artery disease.

Regarding statins, the study found that patients who took statins had a 15% increased risk of a further cardiovascular event than patients who did not take statins.

Statins increase the risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2007 Mar 28;297(12):1344-53

 

Study title and authors:

Effect of rosuvastatin on progression of carotid intima-media thickness in low-risk individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis: the METEOR Trial.

Crouse JR 3rd, Raichlen JS, Riley WA, Evans GW, Palmer MK, O'Leary DH, Grobbee DE, Bots ML; METEOR Study Group.

Department of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA. jrcrouse@wfubmc.edu

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17384434

This study investigated the effects of statins in participants with a low risk of heart disease. The two year study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 984 individuals, average age 57 years. The participants received either a daily 40-mg dose of rosuvastatin or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Cholesterol levels reduced by 33% in the statin users and remained the same in those on placebo.
(b) Low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels reduced by 49% in the statin users and remained the same in those on placebo.
(c) Statin users had a 21% increased risk of death compared to placebo.
(d) Statin users had a 423% increased risk of a serious adverse cardiovascular event compared to placebo.
(e) Statin users had a 4% increased risk of any adverse event compared to placebo.
(f) Statin users had a 5% increased risk of developing cancer compared to placebo.
(g) Statin users had a 5% increased risk of muscle pain compared to placebo.
(h) Statin users had a 121% increased risk of elevated liver enzymes compared to placebo.
(i) Statin users had a 56% increased risk of developing arthritis compared to placebo.



Statin major adverse effects have been under-reported and the way in which they withheld from the public, and even concealed, is a scientific farce

This paper was published in the Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Vol. 3 No. 3, 2013, pp. 179-185

 

Study title and authors:

The Ugly Side of Statins. Systemic Appraisal of the Contemporary Un-Known Unknowns

S. Sultan and N. Hynes

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=34065

This paper undertook a comprehensive review of the scientific literature for articles relating to cardiovascular primary prevention and statin side effects.

 

The review found:

(a) There is a categorical lack of clinical evidence to support the use of statin therapy in primary prevention.

(b) Not only is there a dearth of evidence for primary cardiovascular protection, there is ample evidence to show that statins actually augment cardiovascular risk in women, patients with Diabetes Mellitus and in the young.

(c) Statins are associated with triple the risk of coronary artery and aortic artery calcification.
(d) There is increased risk of diabetes mellitus, cataract formation, and erectile dysfunction in young statin users.
(e) There is a significant increase in the risk of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders in the elderly plus an enhanced risk of a myriad of infectious diseases.
(f) A review of the use of statins found evidence of selective reporting of outcomes and failure to report adverse events.

Sultan concluded: "These finding on statin major adverse effects had been under-reported and the way in which they withheld from the public, and even concealed, is a scientific farce".

Statins can damage the lining of blood vessels

This study was published in Life Sciences 2013 Mar 18

 

Study title and authors:

Statin Therapy Influences Endothelial Cell Morphology and F-Actin Cytoskeleton Structure When Exposed to Static and Laminar Shear Stress Conditions.

Dick M, Jonak P, Leask RL.

Department of Chemical Engineering, McGill University, 3610 University Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 2B2, Canada.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23517776

The aim of the study was to determine how statin drugs affect endothelial cell shape and F-actin cytoskeleton arrangement. (Endothelial cells are the thin layer of cells that line the interior surface of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, and F-actin cytoskeleton is part of the cells scaffolding or skeleton). In the study, human endothelial cells were cultured in the laboratory and were then treated with statins.

The study found:
(a) After been treated with statins the endothelial cells became rounded, which is associated with unhealthy cells in arteries prone to developing a build up of plaque.
(b) After been treated with statins the F-actin cytoskeleton structure was disorganized and fragmented which can lead to cell death.

The significance of the results of the study is that endothelial cells and F-actin cytoskeleton arrangement are advesely impacted by statin treatment which may increase the risk of arterial plaque and cell death.

Statins associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk

This study was published in Atherosclerosis 2011 Dec;219(2):728-33

 

Study title and authors:

Association of lower total bilirubin level with statin usage: the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008.

Ong KL, Wu BJ, Cheung BM, Barter PJ, Rye KA.

Lipid Research Group, Heart Research Institute, 7 Eliza Street, Newtown, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia. ongk@hri.org.au

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21840000

Low levels of bilirubin are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk see here, here and here.

This study investigated the effect of statins on bilirubin levels. The study included data from 3,290 subjects with a history of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

The study found that
(a) Those taking statins had lower total bilirubin levels than those not taking any cholesterol-lowering medication.
(b) Those taking lovastatin, rosuvastatin, and cerivastatin had the lowest bilirubin levels.

The data from the study shows that statins are associated with lower bilirubin levels, which is a marker for increased cardiovascular disease risk. 

Statin use is associated with increased amounts of coronary artery plaque

This study was published in Atherosclerosis 2012 Nov;225(1):148-53

Study title and authors:
Statins use and coronary artery plaque composition: Results from the International Multicenter CONFIRM Registry.

Nakazato R, Gransar H, Berman DS, Cheng VY, Lin FY, Achenbach S, Al-Mallah M, Budoff MJ, Cademartiri F, Callister TQ, Chang HJ, Cury RC, Chinnaiyan K, Chow BJ, Delago A, Hadamitzky M, Hausleiter J, Kaufmann P, Maffei E, Raff G, Shaw LJ, Villines TC, Dunning A, Feuchtner G, Kim YJ, Leipsic J, Min JK.
Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and Department of Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: Ryo.Nakazato@cshs.org.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22981406

The study investigated the relationship between statin use and the presence of coronary artery plaque. The study included 6,673 individuals, average age 59 years, who had their coronary artery plaque assessed.

The plaque was graded as:
(i) Non-calcified
(ii) Mixed
(iii) Calcified

The study found:
(a) Compared to the individuals not taking statins, those taking statins had an 11% increased presence of non-calcified plaque.
(b) Compared to the individuals not taking statins, those taking statins had an 46% increased presence of mixed plaque.
(c) Compared to the individuals not taking statins, those taking statins had an 54% increased presence of calcified plaque.

Nakazato concluded: "Statin use is associated with an increased prevalence and burden of coronary plaques possessing calcium... increasing coronary calcium score is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular events."

Statin treatment is associated with a higher death rate and a higher risk of heart attack in angioplasty patients

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine 1994 Nov 17;331(20):1331-7

 

Study title and authors:

Lack of effect of lovastatin on restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Lovastatin Restenosis Trial Study Group.

Weintraub WS, Boccuzzi SJ, Klein JL, Kosinski AS, King SB 3rd, Ivanhoe R, Cedarholm JC, Stillabower ME, Talley JD, DeMaio SJ

Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7935702

This six month, randomized, double-blind trial evaluated the effects of lovastatin in 404 patients who had undergone angioplasty. (Angioplasty is the technique of mechanically widening narrowed or obstructed arteries). The patients received either lovastatin (40 mg orally twice daily) or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Patients receiving lovastatin had a 200% increased risk of death compared to the patients receiving placebo.
(b) Patients receiving lovastatin had a 177% increased risk of a heart attack compared to the patients receiving placebo.

The data from the study reveals that statin treatment is associated with a higher death rate and a higher risk of heart attack in angioplasty patients.

Statins are associated with higher death rates, higher cardiac death rates and increased risk of cancer

This study was published in Circulation 2000 Oct 10;102(15):1748-54

 

Study title and authors:

Long-term effects of cholesterol lowering and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on coronary atherosclerosis: The Simvastatin/Enalapril Coronary Atherosclerosis Trial (SCAT).

Teo KK, Burton JR, Buller CE, Plante S, Catellier D, Tymchak W, Dzavik V, Taylor D, Yokoyama S, Montague TJ.

University of Alberta Hospitals, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. teok@fhs.mcmaster.ca

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11023927

One of the aims of this long-term, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of simvastatin in patients with normal cholesterol levels and with detectable plaque build up in at least three major coronary artery segments. The study lasted for four years and included  a total of 460 patients: 230 received simvastatin and 230, a placebo.

The study found:

(a) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 117% increased risk of death compared to the patients receiving placebo.

(b) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 76% increased risk of cardiac death compared to the patients receiving placebo.

(c) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 225% increased risk of non-cardiac death compared to the patients receiving placebo.

(d) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 9% increased risk of a heart attack compared to the patients receiving placebo.

(e) The patients receiving simvastatin had a 78% increased risk of cancer compared to the patients receiving placebo.

The data from the study reveals that statins are associated with higher death rates, higher cardiac death rates and increased risk of cancer. 

 



Statins are associated with decreased myocardial function

This study was published in Clinical Cardiology 2009 Dec;32(12):684-9

 

Study title and authors:

Statin therapy decreases myocardial function as evaluated via strain imaging.

Rubinstein J, Aloka F, Abela GS.

Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20027659

The myocardium is the heart's muscular wall. It contracts to pump blood out of the heart, then relaxes as the heart refills with returning blood. This vital function pumps blood to the cells and tissues of the body. A decrease in myocardial function is associated with angina see here and a chronic impairment of blood flow is associated with heart failure see here.

This study sought to identify changes in myocardial function associated with statin use in 28 patients without heart disease. The myocardial function of 12 patients that were on statin therapy were compared with 16 controls who were not taking statins.

The study found that statin therapy is associated with decreased myocardial function.

Statin treatment increases cardiovascular diseases in diabetics by 31%

This study was published in Diabetes 2009 Apr;58(4):926-33

Study title and authors:

C-reactive protein and 5-year survival in type 2 diabetes: the Casale Monferrato Study.

Bruno G, Fornengo P, Novelli G, Panero F, Perotto M, Segre O, Zucco C, Deambrogio P, Bargero G, Perin PC.

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. graziella.bruno@unito.it

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074985

The objective of the study was to determine to what extent various diabetic risk factors and diabetic treatments influence 5-year cardiovascular death rates and total death rates in type 2 diabetic individuals. The study lasted for 5 years, with 11,717 years of observation on 2,381 subjects with type 2 diabetes.

The study found after 5 years:

• Those with C-reactive protein levels above 3 mg/l had an increase of 51% in total death rates and an increase of 44% in death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those with C-reactive protein levels below 3 mg/l. High fat diets can reduce dangerous C-reactive protein levels see here.
• Those with high blood sugar levels (HbA1-C) had an increase of 10% in total death rates and an increase of 19% in death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those with lower blood sugar levels. High fat diets can reduce dangerous high blood sugar levels see here.
• Those with LOW levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol had an increase of 8% in total death rates and an increase of of 1% in death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those with higher levels of HDL cholesterol. High fat diets raise the levels of the good HDL cholesterol see here.
• Those who were been treated with anti-diabetic drugs had an increase of 9% in total death rates and an increase of 24% in death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those who were not treated with anti-diabetic drugs.
• Those who were receiving insulin treatment had an increase of 81% in total death rates and an increase of 129% in death from cardiovascular diseases compared to those who were not receiving insulin treatment.
• Those who were taking statins had an increase of 2% in total death rates and an increases of 31% in death from cardiovascular diseases.

This study reveals many health risk factors linked with diabetes and higher death rates including high levels of C-reactive protein and blood sugar, and treatment with anti-diabetic drugs and statins.

Statins should not be given to patients with heart failure

This study was published in the Lancet 2008 Oct 4;372(9645):1231-9

Study title and authors:

Effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Gissi-HF Investigators, Tavazzi L, Maggioni AP, Marchioli R, Barlera S, Franzosi MG, Latini R, Lucci D, Nicolosi GL, Porcu M, Tognoni G.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18757089?dopt=Abstract

The study investigated the effects of rosuvastatin in patients with heart failure. The study included 4,574 patients aged 18 years or older with chronic heart failure were assigned to either rosuvastatin 10 mg daily (2,285) or placebo (2,289) and followed up for 3.9 years.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 4% decreased risk of death from cardiovascular reasons compared to placebo.
(b) Statin users had a 12% increased risk of sudden cardiac death compared to placebo.
(c) Statin users had a 23% increased risk of fatal and non fatal stroke compared to placebo.
(d) Statin users had a 2.5% increased risk of death compared to placebo.

Tavazzi said: "In conclusion, results from the GISSI-HF trial might help physicians in taking the following decisions. First, not prescribing statins to patients with heart failure of non-ischaemic cause. Second, stopping statins in patients with heart failure of ischaemic cause".

Analysis of 13 studies finds that statins offer no health benefits for women

This paper was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2004;291(18):2243-2252

Study title and authors:

Drug Treatment of Hyperlipidemia in Women

Judith M. E. Walsh, MD, MPH;Michael Pignone, MD, MPH

Division of General Internal Medicine and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco.

This paper can be accessed at: http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/291/18/2243.abstract

The aim of this analysis of 13 studies (which included 19,707 women) was to determine if cholesterol lowering drugs such as statins have any effect on heart disease rates and death rates in women. The study investigated results for both women with cardiovascular disease and without cardiovascular disease.

The study found:

(a) For women with heart disease statins marginally lower heart disease rates, however death rates from all causes remained the same.

(b) For women without heart disease statins marginally raise heart disease death rates, however death rates from all cause again remained the same.

This analysis of 13 studies found that statins offer no health benefits for women.

Women should not be prescribed statins as they fail to provide any overall health benefit

This article was published in the British Medical Journal 2007 May 12; 334(7601): 983 Study title and author:

Should women be offered cholesterol lowering drugs to prevent cardiovascular disease? No

Malcolm Kendrick, general practitioner

24 Prestwick Close, Tytherington, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 2TH

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1867901/?tool=pubmed

Dr. Kendrick believes there is little or no evidence of health benefits for women taking statins.

 

He makes the following observations:

(a) To date, none of the large trials of secondary prevention with statins has shown a reduction in overall mortality in women.

(b) The primary prevention trials have shown neither an overall mortality benefit, nor even a reduction in cardiovascular end points in women.

(c) Women should not be prescribed statins. Not only do statins fail to provide any overall health benefit in women, they represent a massive financial drain on health services. This money could be diverted to treatments of proved value.

(d) Statins carry a substantial burden of side effects.

(e) Mass medicalisation is a dangerous road with many psychological and societal consequences.

(f) In the Scandinavian simvastatin survival study three more women died taking statins than the women who took the placebo.

(g) In the studies of primary prevention neither total mortality nor serious adverse events have been reduced.

(h) A meta-analysis published in the Lancet found that statins even failed to reduce coronary heart disease events in women.

(i) Another meta-analysis of statins in primary prevention suggested that overall mortality may actually be increased by 1% over 10 years (in both men and women).

(j) Data from 124,814 women in 19 studies and trials found that cholesterol levels had no impact on total death rates and heart disease.

(k) Studies have suggested that side effects from statins may be much more common than is recognised.

(l) One study found that 80% of athletes could not tolerate statins.

(m) Research by Golomb and McGraw found that doctors often dismiss most (probable) statin related events. Patients who met the criteria for definite or probable adverse events reported that their doctors tended to dismiss symptoms, deny specific statins adverse events, and failed to appreciate the effect of the adverse reaction on their quality of life.

(n) More evidence comes from the US Food and Drug Administration adverse event reporting system. Between November 1997 and May 2004 simvastatin was reported as a direct cause of 49,350 adverse events and 416 deaths.Adverse events are greatly under-reported, so the actual figures are likely to be much higher.

(o) Of further concern, as statins are increasingly prescribed to younger women, is the potential for birth defects, with severe neurological abnormalities reported. Spending millions on a treatment that has no proved benefit and may cause serious harm goes against the rationale of evidence based prescribing.

 

Women should not be prescribed statins as they fail to provide any overall health benefit.

Study of nearly 4 million people shows that statins do NOT prevent heart attacks

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the Journal of Negative Results in BioMedicine 2011, 10:6 24 May 2011 and a recipe for chicken and zucchini hot salad.

Study title and authors:
No connection between the level of exposition to statins in the population and the incidence/mortality of acute myocardial infarction: An ecological study based on Sweden's municipalities.

Staffan Nilsson, Sigvard Molstad, Catarina Karlberg, Jan-Erik Karlsson and Lars-Goran Persson

Books:

Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden

This study can be accessed at: http://www.jnrbm.com/content/10/1/6/abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate if a relation can be detected between heart attack mortality or incidence and statin utilisation, for men and women in different age-groups.The study included a total of 3,922,094 people (1,926,113 men and 1,995,981 women) aged 40-79 years.

The study revealed:
(a) The rate of statin use increased almost three times for both men and women between 1998 and 2002.
(b) The numbers of people suffering or dying from heart attacks was not reduced.

Nilsson concluded: Despite a widespread and increasing utilisation of statins, no correlation to the incidence or mortality of heart attacks could be detected. Other factors than increased statin treatment should be analysed especially when discussing the allocation of public resources.

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 

Recipe of the day

Chicken and Zucchini Hot Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

•2.5 lb chicken breast, cut into cubes;

•5 zucchinis, cut into cubes;

Food Mall: Chicken Breasts

•3 tbsp coconut oil, butter, ghee or lard;

•1 tbsp oregano;
•1 large onion, chopped;
•7 tbsp homemade mayonnaise;
•Juice of 2 lemon;
•2 cloves garlic, minced very finely;
•1 head romaine lettuce, washed and shredded;
•Salt and pepper to taste;

Preparation:
1.Heat a large pan over a medium-high heat and cook the chicken cubes until well cooked. Set aside

2.In the same pan, with the rest of the cooking fat, add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes;

3.Add the zucchini cubes and oregano and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the zucchini cubes are soft.

4.In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, lemon juice and garlic.

5.Add the hot and cooked chicken, onion and zucchini to the mayonnaise preparation and mix well.

6.Add the romaine lettuce, mix well and serve in bowls. This hot salad is delicious topped with some fresh almonds.

Chicken and Zucchini Hot Salad

Statins put patients at risk from depression and chronic fatigue syndrome

This post includes a summary of a paper published in Neuroendocrinology Letters 2009;30(4):462-9

Books:

Study title and authors:

Lower plasma Coenzyme Q10 in depression: a marker for treatment resistance and chronic fatigue in depression and a risk factor to cardiovascular disorder in that illness.

Maes M, Mihaylova I, Kubera M, Uytterhoeven M, Vrydags N, Bosmans E.

Maes Clinics, Antwerp, Belgium. crc.mh@telenet.be

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20010493

The researchers note how there is now evidence that major depression is accompanied by an induction of inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways and by a lowered antioxidant status. Coenzyme Q10 is a strong antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory effects.

This study examines the relationship between coenzyme Q10 levels, treatment resistant depression and chronic fatigue syndrome. The study included 35 depressed patients and 22 normal volunteers.

The study found:
(a) Coenzyme Q10 levels were significantly lower in depressed patients than in normal volunteers.
(b) Coenzyme Q10 levels were significantly lower in patients with treatment resistant depression and with chronic fatigue syndrome than in the other depressed patients.

The results show that lower coenzyme Q10 levels plays a role in depression and in particular in treatment resistant depression and with chronic fatigue accompanying depression.

The researchers note that the findings that lower coenzyme Q10 levels are a risk factor to coronary artery disease and chronic heart failure and mortality due to chronic heart failure suggest that low coenzyme Q10 levels are another factor explaining the risk to cardiovascular disorder in depression.

They conclude: "Since statins significantly lower plasma coenzyme Q10, depressed patients and in particular those with treatment resistant depression and with chronic fatigue syndrome represent populations at risk to statin treatment".

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall

End of the road for the diet-heart theory?

This post includes a summary of a paper published in the Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal 2008 May 9:1-6 and a recipe for roast pork and taro.

Study title and author:

Books:

End of the road for the diet-heart theory?

Werko L

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/ebm/record/18609049/abstract/End_of_the_road_for_the_diet_heart_theory
 
In this review Werko describes how the diet-heart theory is flawed. He points out that;
(a) Having a heart attack is NOT synonymous with clogged arteries.
(b) Shenanigans with the data has been used  to obscure the negative results of randomized multifactorial trials.
(c) Side effects of the statin group of medicines have been more or less been neglected in the large amount of clinical trials.

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall

Recipe of the day

Roast Pork and Taro

Ingredients:
1-1/4 to 1-1/2 pounds taro (2-3 inches long)

Food Mall: Pork Shoulder

1 piece boned and tied pork butt or shoulder (2to2-1/2 pounds)

1 onion (1/2 lb.), peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
2 cups chicken or beef broth
4 cups chopped washed spinach leaves

Instructions:
In a 4 or 5 quart ovenproof pan over high heat, bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add taro and cook 5 minutes.

Drain and let cool.

With a knife, peel taro and cut away any bruised or decayed spots. Cut taro into 1 inch chunks.

Rinse pan.

Rinse pork and set, fatty side up, in pan. Add taro, onion, ginger, and broth.

Cover and bake in a 375F oven until meat is very tender when pierced, about 2-1/2 hours.

Uncover and stir spinach into juices. Bake until meat is lightly browned, about 30 minutes more.

Then broil about 8 inches from heat until meat is richly browned, about 5 minutes longer.

Cut strings from pork, slice meat (it tends to tear apart), and serve with taro mixture and juices.

Season to taste.

Are all the early statin trials a sham?

This post includes a summary of a paper published in the Journal of Lipid Nutrition Vol. 19 (2010) , No. 1 pp.65-92

Study title and authors:
Recent cholesterol-lowering drug trials: New data, new questions
Michel de Lorgeri and Patricia Salen
Laboratoire Cœur & Nutrition, Université Joseph Fourier

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jln/19/1/19_65/_article

Books:

The french cardiologist Dr Michel de Lorgeril investigated the outcome of recent cholesterol-lowering drugs trials.

He found:
(a) The cholesterol-lowering drug trials published in 2008-2009 were either negative (ENHANCE, SEAS, GISSI-HF, AURORA) or obviously biased and therefore not credible (JUPITER).
(b) It is also noteworthy that most cholesterol-lowering drug trials published between 2005 (the year of the Vioxx affair and of enforcement of new clinical trial regulations) and 2007 were also negative or ambiguous.
(c) Taken together, these trials strongly suggest that the results of previous, highly positive trials with statins - particularly in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease - published between 1994 and 2004 and that were used to issue guidelines for medical practitioners should be carefully re examined by experts independent from the pharmaceutical industry.
(d) The positive results from trials published between 1994 and 2004 were before the Vioxx affair and of enforcement of new clinical trial regulations. (Vioxx was a drug that was supposed to greatly relieve the pains of arthritis sufferers, the problem was that it caused heart attacks and strokes and three-fold increase in death rates. The company that manufactured the drug (Merck) tried to hide these side effects by manipulating data. Eventually the drug was withdrawn and now, in an attempt to prevent pharmaceutical companies hiding or manipulating evidence, the US Food and Drug Administration require that all pharmaceutical companies file any and all trial results to a federal registry within one year of the completion of the trial).

Dr de Lorgeril concludes: "The next question would be whether it is not time for a full reappraisal of the theory according to which cholesterol-lowering results in a significant protection against cardiovascular morbidity and mortality".

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall

Adverse Effects of Statins

This post features a summary of a study published in the International Journal of Pharmacology 1 (3): 210-225, 2005

Study title and authors:
Adverse Effects of Statins
Anna Jamroz-Wisniewska and Jerzy Bettowski
This study can be accessed at: http://198.170.104.138/3/detail.php?id=1&jid=ijp&theme=3&issueno=157&articleno=55015

Dr Anna Jamroz-Wisniewska reviewed the evidence concerning the adverse effects of statins.

The review found:
(i) Statins inhibit the production of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, an enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, which initially converts HMG-CoA to mevalonate. Mevalonate is the precursor to cholesterol.
(ii) Apart from cholesterol, mevalonate is also a precursor for nonsteroid isoprenoids including farnesylpyrophosphate, geranylgeranylpyrophosphate, coenzyme Q, dolichol and isopentenylpyrophosphate which play an essential role in cellular physiology. 
(iii) The authors report that myopathy (muscle disease) is the most frequent side effect of statins. Other's include peripheral neuropathy (damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system), hepatotoxicity (liver damage), increased risk of cataract and, according to some studies, increased risk of breast cancer.
(iv) Some studies suggest that statins may sometimes even be the cause of clogged arteries and heart failure.