While I commend anyone who is starting to take control of their health by researching options for treatment of various abnormalities, your report shows some of the pitfalls of relying on the internet for that information.

HMG coA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been shown in several large clinical studies to not only reduce low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) but to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, heart failure, etc.). As you state, in theory reducing cholesterol levels too low may be detrimental, however, that level has never been reached in practice. Recent studies which were designed to aggressively lower LDL (in some cases to a mean of 62 mg/dL) showed a benefit with no low cholesterol-related adverse events.

Yes, there is a rare side effect of some statins, rhabdomyolysis, in which skeletal muscle cells die and release cellular contents into the blood, ultimately poisoning the kidney. The biochemical mechanism of this effect is not well understood. Note, this occurs in skeletal muscle, not the heart, so you are not trading off a heart attack for heart failure. Also, not all statins cause rhabdomyolysis; pravachol and fluvastatin have a very low (perhaps zero in the case of fluvastatin) incidence.

Yes, I agree that statins are overprescribed because most people are not willing to make the lifestyle changes required to influence blood cholesterol levels. And the effects changes in diet and increasing levels of exercise on cholesterol are not trivial. In fact, I believe that proper diet and exercise can positively affect not only cholesterol, but high blood pressure, glucose intolerance (leading to diabetes), and clearly obesity.

I'm not going to conclude that your comments about CoQ10 and policosanols are incorrect, but there are no reliable clinical studies to support their use. And just because something is "natural" does not mean that it is safe or effective.

I'm sorry to go on at length, but I just want to stress that while the internet is a wonderful resource, one does need to exercise caution, especially regarding claims of superiority of nontraditional medical treatments.

posted by 12.46.110...

• Heath topic: cholesterol, what I have leaned, Dean, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 09:37:11
  • 1/2teaspoon of cinnamon a day lowers cholesterol, PaulYVR, Wed, 2 Jun 2004 15:45:50
    • 1/2teaspoon of cinnamon a day lowers cholesterol + your, larryu, Wed, 2 Jun 2004 15:53:53
  • Re: Heath topic: cholesterol, what I have leaned, EdW, Wed, 2 Jun 2004 06:06:08 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: Heath topic: cholesterol, what I have leaned, Dean, Wed, 2 Jun 2004 19:31:20
  • All true, Dean but very misleading >, ChipJ, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 18:01:20
  • Re: Heath topic: cholesterol, what I have leaned, JLowe, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 10:21:33
    • Re: Heath topic: cholesterol, what I have leaned, Jason 5W-40, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:59:35
      • There is good pasta, No.9, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 19:33:18
      • Re: Heath topic: cholesterol, what I have leaned, SaabKen in Vancouver, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 13:05:11
    • Is working on SAAB considered an aerobic activity? (+), Vlad, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:57:03
      • maybe not ... get the blood pressure up too much, Trev, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 12:55:09
      • probably good exercise, but..., Jason 5W-40, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 12:02:05
    • Re: Heath topic: cholesterol, what I have leaned, SaabKen in Vancouver, Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:45:38

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