The raison d'etre of this website is to provide you with hard scientific information which may help you make informed decisions in your quest for health (so far I have blogged concise summaries of over 1,500 scientific studies and have had three books published).
My research is mainly focused on the effects of cholesterol, saturated fat and statin drugs on health. If you know anyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels and heart disease, or has been told to take statin drugs you could send them a link to this website, and to my statin or cholesterol or heart disease books.
David Evans
Independent Health Researcher
Showing posts with label Statins and Polyneuropathy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Statins and Polyneuropathy. Show all posts
This post featues a paper published in the British Medical Journal 17 November 2001;323:1145
Study title and authors: Statins And Cancer: Cause For Concern Uffe Ravnskov, Paul J. Rosch, Peter H.Langsjoen, Joel M. Kauffman, and Kilmer S. McCully
Magle Stora Kyrkogata 9, S-22350 Lund, Sweden. This paper can be accessed at:http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/323/7322/1145#26439
Dr Uffe Ravnskov has published over 80 scientific papers regarding the cholesterol, saturated fat, heart disease hypothesis. Here he questions the wisdom of recommending statin treatment for a large segment of the world’s population simply because they have elevated cholesterol levels or are assumed to be at increased risk for coronary events because of the presence of other risk markers. He finds: (i) It is already known that statins may induce fatal rhabdomyolysis, cardiac insufficiency, peripheral polyneuropathy, hepatic toxicity, and mental disturbances. (ii) A much more momentous issue is that all statins have proven carcinogenic. (iii) In the Heart Protection Study non-melanoma skin cancer was seen in 243 patients treated with simvastatin compared with 202 cases in the control group. (iv) In the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study non-melanoma skin cancer was seen in 13 patients treated with simvastatin compared with six in the control group. (v) Also disquieting was the significant increase in breast cancer rates in patients treated with pravastatin in the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events trial.
This post includes a summary of a paper written in the British Medical Journal2001;322:1019-1023 and a recipe for beef, courgette and yellow pepper rolls.
Polyneuropathy is a neurological disorder that occurs when many peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously.
The author of the paper, Dr Elias Ragi, is a Consultant Clinical Neurophysiologist from the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
(i) In one year Dr Ragi, reported to the Medicines Control Agency - 16 cases of progressive generalised axonal neuropathy, most likley to have been caused by statins. (ii) Patients were 52 to 80 years old, mostly males (4:1). Statins were: simvastatin - 5; pravastatin - 4; atorvastatin - 4; cerivastatin - 3. (iii) Most patients presented with rather progressive weakness or loss of co-ordination in the lower limbs. (iv) Neuropathy - and its association with statins - was discovered by nerve conduction studies. (v) In some cases, it is the patient who first suspected the association. (vi) Weakness occured within two months of instituting, or increasing dosage, of the statin. (vii) The neuropathy is severe and in several cases leading to loss of nerve supply to the muscle. (viii) Neuropathy may reverse if the stain is stopped. More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall
1 large yellow pepper, deseeded and cut into strips
2 medium courgettes, cut into matchsticks
60ml/4tbsp fermented soy sauce
Salt and freshly milled black pepper
3 spring onions, cut into long thin strips
60ml/4tbsp sherry or white wine vinegar
Method:
1.Place the steaks on a large chopping board, cover with a large piece of cling film or greaseproof paper and flatten well with a rolling pin or meat hammer to about 5mm/¼inch thick. Season.
2.Heat half the oil in a large non-stick frying pan and cook the peppers and courgettes for 2-3 minutes until lightly golden. Add half the fermented soy sauce and cook for a further 30 seconds.
3.Divide the peppers, courgettes and raw spring onions evenly over the steaks. Roll up tightly into bundles and secure with a cocktail stick.
4.Wipe the pan clean and heat the remaining oil. Cook the beef rolls for 4-6 minutes until brown on all sides, removing the cocktail sticks halfway through cooking. Transfer to a plate and keep warm.
5.Add 60ml/4tbsp water to the pan with the remaining fermented soy sauce and vinegar and cook for 1-2 minute until the sauce thickens. Return the beef to the sauce and heat through for a further 2-3 minutes.
Damage to the peripheral nerves is called polyneuropathy. Pain, numbness or tingling starts in the feet or fingers and may spread.
This study investigated the risk of polyneuropathy in statin users. The authors of the study used a patient registry to identify first-time-ever cases of polyneuropathy. They found 166 cases of polyneuropathy and each case was compared with 25 control subjects. The cases were classified as definite (35), probable (54), or possible (77).
The study found:
(a) In all cases of polyneuropathy statin users had a 270% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(b) In definite cases of polyneuropathy statin users had a 1320% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(c) In all cases of polyneuropathy current statin users had a 360% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(d) In definite cases of polyneuropathy current statin users had a 1510% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(e) In definite cases of polyneuropathy patients treated with statins for two or more years had a 2640% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
The lead author of the study, Dr David Gaist from Odense University Hospital, concluded: "Long-term exposure to statins may substantially increase the risk of polyneuropathy". More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall
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