Studies reveal the truth about statins
THE Mercury published an article carrying the response from six doctors on Tim Noakes’s book, Challenging Beliefs. As a person who was diagnosed with diabetes and high cholesterol 11 years ago, I was not a fan of Noakes over his initial promotion of carbo-loading which may have caused harm to people who followed his recommendation.
However, I appreciate his bravery in recanting and agree with most of his comments in his new book. While I am not qualified in medicine, I have some questions for them.
In research (Elise Barron, 2006) into length of training that SA medical students undergo on matters of nutrition, it was revealed that doctors spent less than one week in the total six years of study.
It is evident that medical doctors (even cardiologists) are grossly under-qualified to comment on matters relating to nutrition. Have any of the six doctors spent more time studying nutrition rather than pharmacology, and are they qualified as a nutritionist to dole out advice on nutrition?
In the study into Lipitor (Aspen, 2006) on a sample 1 211 patients on Lipitor, a statin those six doctors promote, there was a reduction in cardiovascular events from 5.5 percent in the control group to 4 percent in the people on Lipitor. In other words three people will benefit out of 200 people taking those statins, or put another way 197 people of those 200 do not benefit at all from taking the statins
There are many side-effects, and increased risk of death and diabetes. I have read similar research reports of Crestor (Astrazeneca, 2008), where the number needed to treat is 95 to benefit 1 person, but increasing the risk of diabetes.
I have been to many physicians over the last 10 years who prescribed statins, including pravastatin, Lipitor, zocor and crestor, none of whom warned of the side-effects.
On their advice, I have taken the medication, only to experience many symptoms of muscular pain, which was only relieved after a few months of stopping statin therapy. It is well known that statins affect muscles.
It does not surprise me that some studies into statins reveal an increased likelihood of a heart attack. After all, the heart is a hard-working muscle.
I hope the medical profession will do the honourable thing and reveal that high cholesterol is a symptom of underlying inflammation. Merely prescribing medication to reduce cholesterol without reducing the underlying causes of inflammation will do little to improve health but earn massive profits for pharmaceutical companies. MANOGRAN GOVENDER
Durban North