Cholesterol is one of those key health indicators we are supposed to REALLY care about as we age. But conflicting conclusions by health and research experts -- the latest about the effectiveness of Statins -- leaves me feeling confused and skeptical.
Is it just me?
At first, we thought we just needed to lower our cholesterol. Then we learned it's all about 'good' cholesterol and 'bad' cholesterol and the good/bad ratio, so we tried to integrate those seemingly conflicting messages.
Of course, we tried to mind our diet and lifestyle. But if genetics and/or willpower, didn't improve the numbers, then our physician would recommend putting us on cholesterol reduction prescriptions, like Statins, which magically and painlessly did the trick.
Now there are reports that many Statins don't work - at least not as well as their drug makers, who spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising - tout they do. See, for example, these recent headlines plucked from the NY Times:
Study Reveals Doubt on Drug for Cholesterol (January 15, 2008)
New Questions on Treating Cholesterol (January 17, 2008)
Most recently, the cholesterol drug Vytorin, which became known for its commercials showing people who resemble tacos and banana cream pie, is the latest Statin drug to fall flat on trial.
The reason to care about these findings is Statins may have an unknown and long-term cost to our health. In addition to straining the kidneys, they appear to reduce the body's natural levels of the vitamin-like, cellular protection agent known as Co-enzyme Q10, which among other benefits acts as an antioxidant, particularly active in protecting the system against LDL oxidation. (See NaturalNews.com)
So while reducing LDL, Statins might also cause long-term health issues. For some, Statins may be necessary and worth the trade-off, but the latest headlines about these wonder drugs should make us pause before we blindly accept a prescription that promises a quick fix without hard lifestyle changes.
Isn't that just common sense?
What do you think?
