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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Fish Oil Works Better Than Statins at Improving HDL Cholesterol

A study has shown that fish oils are more effective than the statin drug Lipitor in positively affecting the levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol in obese and insulin-resistant men. HDL cholesterol protects against atherosclerosis by removing excess cholesterol from arterial cells, and low HDL levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly for those who are obese or insulin resistant.
(American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 84, No. 1, 37-43, July 2006)
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Gary Moller Comments:
Research studies like these beg the question why on earth these drugs (statins) continue to be prescribed to just about every person in the developed world who presents to the Dr with "raised" cardiovascular risk. Why not concentrate on diet and throw in a little exercise while at it?

Besides, fish oil, flaxseed oil and olive oil, to name a few - are much more affordable than prescription drugs and they have no side effects, other than feeling and looking great!

I gave a presentation to an audience of over 50 people last Friday about staying healthy and fit as we age. I was asked about statins. In my response I referred to "rare" adverse effects including severe muscle wasting, muscle weakness and excruciating pain. After the presentation, two women came up to me and told me that they had suffered muscle pain and wasting from taking statins. One had severe wasting of the quadriceps. Such complications are terrible and lasting, causing no end of ongoing problems with health, quality of life and the risk of injury by falling.

So much for these adverse reactions being rare. If, say, about 12 people in the audiuence were on statins, 2 out of 12 is not rare.

More about this issue in a later posting.

1 comment:

Wayne said...

a pharmeceutical cmpany have a new building down the road from me, its a massive multi storey complex, something you would never see a supplement company be able to fund in NZ, too many people are hoodwinked into paying the extortionate costs of pharmaceuticals where the markup on copyrighted drugs can be 1,000%
you hae little to loose price wise trying natural foods and supplements, you stand to improve your health for a fraction of the cost, where pharmaceuticals dont always treat the cause as much as they only treat the symptoms like most cold remedies which simply castrate the immune system to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms which can as much be because the immune system has cranked up and is doing its job as much as an infection itself causing discomfort