Something Fishy
Various findings about a fundamental misconception we've had about cholesterol seems to have finally broken through to mainstream media. This hasn't slowed the market for statins yet though.
The real secret behind statins' effects in the much more limited applications than they are currently marketed for (e.g. men under 70 who have had a previous heart-attack) isn't because it lowers cholesterol. Statins screw up a building block that affects the creation of a number of chemicals in the body; cholesterol is one, but another is Rho-kinase, an enzyme responsible for inflammation.
It was puzzling why a number of populations with LDL cholesterol averages as high as America, like Spain, have half the the number of heart attacks. Or the Swiss, whose are even higher than us, have less heart disease. Or the aborigines of Australia, which have very low cholesterol, have even higher incidence of heart disease. Something was missing from the picture.
Inflammation is implicated in a wide host of health issues. And there are a variety of treatments for inflammation that have far fewer side effects and may be more effective. But its hard for the big pharms to milk a profit out of simple aspirin, fish oil, garlic and vitamin E. But no worries, they have a plan . . .
On a somewhat related note... why you may want to start drinking Green Tea(!)
The real secret behind statins' effects in the much more limited applications than they are currently marketed for (e.g. men under 70 who have had a previous heart-attack) isn't because it lowers cholesterol. Statins screw up a building block that affects the creation of a number of chemicals in the body; cholesterol is one, but another is Rho-kinase, an enzyme responsible for inflammation.
It was puzzling why a number of populations with LDL cholesterol averages as high as America, like Spain, have half the the number of heart attacks. Or the Swiss, whose are even higher than us, have less heart disease. Or the aborigines of Australia, which have very low cholesterol, have even higher incidence of heart disease. Something was missing from the picture.
Inflammation is implicated in a wide host of health issues. And there are a variety of treatments for inflammation that have far fewer side effects and may be more effective. But its hard for the big pharms to milk a profit out of simple aspirin, fish oil, garlic and vitamin E. But no worries, they have a plan . . .
With two major, multi-billion dollar statin products going generic in 2006, the industry will have to find new ways and new areas to devise their blockbuster drug products. There are four products currently marketed in the United States that are forecast to reach the blockbuster $1 billion mark by 2011. Newer product types, as well as the advocating of aggressive lipid management by the medical community are expected to aid in product growth outside of statin monotherapy.Source.BTW, the "advocating of aggressive lipid management" is marketing the lowering LDL benefits against heart disease in case you didn't catch that.
On a somewhat related note... why you may want to start drinking Green Tea(!)
You know it is no wonder we get so confused over how to take care of our bodies. Maybe it is time to go back to the oldtime remedies that the medicine men/women used. I sometimes think that might be the best. It would be nice if we could trust our FDA, government, pharmacies and doctors to do what is truly the best without how much money they will make!
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