According to a new study published 3 days ago in JAMA, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended the use of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

They recommend the use of low- to moderate-dose statins in adults ages 40 to 75 years without a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) who have 1 or more CVD risk factors (dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking) and a calculated 10-year CVD event risk of 10% or greater.1

The USPSTF concluded that the harm of low- to moderate-dose statin use in adults aged 40 to 75 years is minimal.

In contrast, recent previous studies demonstrate how the education on statins are deceptive and create the appearance that are safe and effective in prevention of cardiovascular disease. There is no questions that statins are effective at reducing cholesterol levels, but they have failed to substantially improve cardiovascular outcomes or have succeeded in reducing the risk of mortality. 2 The role of high cholesterol as an etiological factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been a source of controversy and debate for decades. Studies have demonstrated that older adults with low levels of cholesterol are just as atherosclerotic as those with high levels.3

Also, another study demonstrated how statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure. This study suggests that statins may be causative in coronary artery calcification and can act as mitochondrial toxins that impair muscle function in the heart and blood vessels through the depletion of coenzyme Q10 and ATP generation.4

Statins inhibit the synthesis of vitamin K2 which protects the arteries from calcification. In addition, statins inhibit the biosynthesis of selenium containing proteins. This impairment may be a factor in congestive heart failure as a selenium deficiency is seen with cardiomyopathies.

Health care providers have many more tools today than simply to look at the standard lipid panel to assess cardiovascular health. It is essential to perform a thorough assessment for all of these patients looking at lipid fractionation profiles, chronic inflammatory markers (ferritin, hs-CRP, fibrinogen), nutrient markers (magnesium, potassium, selenium, copper, folate, B12, B6, zinc, and calcium), fat soluble vitamins (CoQ10, vitamin D, vitamin K, Vitamin A, Vitmain E), oxidative stress factors (homocysteine, insulin, and lipid peroxidases), heavy metals, and a fatty acid profile.

At the end of the day protocol driven treatment like this fail. Each person’s biochemical individuality exerts a major influence on his or her health. The level of nutrient intake that maintains the best possible health is highly variable from person to person. Lifestyle choices and environmental exposures filtered through genetic predisposition are fundamental factors in the expression of disease and a successful treatment approach must include investigation into these factors.

By Michael Jurgelewicz, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, CNS

References:
1. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, David C. Grossman, Susan J. Curry, Karina W. Davidson, John W. Epling, Francisco A. R. García, Matthew W. Gillman, Alex R. Kemper, Alex H. Krist, Ann E. Kurth, C. Seth Landefeld, Michael L. LeFevre, Carol M. Mangione, William R. Phillips, Douglas K. Owens, Maureen G. Phipps, Michael P. Pignone. Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults. JAMA, 2016; 316 (19): 1997 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2016.15450

2. Diamond DM, Ravnskov U. How statistical deception created the appearance that statins are safe and effective in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;8(2):201-10. doi: 10.1586/17512433.2015.1012494. Epub 2015 Feb 12.
3. Ravnskov U. Is atherosclerosis caused by high cholesterol? QJM 2002;95:397-403

4. Okuyama H et al. Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanism. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Mar;8(2):189-99. doi: 10.1586/17512433.2015.1011125. Epub 2015 Feb 6.

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