DRUGS YOU MAY NOT NEED & THEIR NATURAL ALTERNATIVES
By Dr. Zoltan P. Rona
Dr. Zoltan P. Rona practices Complementary Medicine in Toronto and is the medical editor of “The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing.” He has also published several Canadian best selling books including “Return to The Joy of Health”. For more of his articles, seehttp://www.mydoctor.ca/drzoltanrona
CHALLENGING THE STATIN DOGMA
Do we all suffer from a statin deficiency? Cholesterol lowering drugs are a $26 billion a year industry in North America. Statins are no less a medical dogma than the swine flu vaccine. Do we dare question it?
The commitment by mainstream doctors to these drugs, in fact, is so powerful that many physicians themselves take one of the statins even though their cholesterol levels may be normal. In the past year alone, I have seen at least two dozen patients who were prescribed statins by other physicians, even though their blood levels of cholesterol were normal. In many cases the physicians prescribing the drugs boasted that they were taking the same prescription.
Few conventional MDs ever question the validity of taking statins. Ask anyone over 50 and there’s at least a 50% chance they take a statin of some kind. That’s all provided they are not a regular reader of this magazine. Unfortunately, statins may well be the biggest scam ever perpetrated upon an unwary public and the medical profession by Big Pharma. Big Pharma spends big bucks to make sure all doctors are continuously prescribing these money makers and great efforts are also made to minimize the significance of side effects.
Most Common Statins
Lipitor (atorvastatin)
Zocor (simvastatin)
Pravachol (pravastatin)
Lescol (fluvastatin)
Mevacor (lovastatin)
Crestor (rosuvastatin)
Statins are believed to be “preventive medicine” against heart disease but are they really? If one looks at actual statistics in the prevention of a first heart attack, statins only prevent 1% of first heart attacks over a period of 10 years. For every life saved by a statin an equal number of deaths occur that are caused by adverse reactions to statins in the form of accidents, infections, suicide and cancer (also 1% over 10 years). As a form of first heart attack prevention, statins are an ineffectual waste of money. The evidence for reduction of mortality is, at the very least, highly debatable.
All statins work primarily by blocking an enzyme (HMG CoA reductase) in the liver that helps manufacture cholesterol. Unfortunately, this is the same enzyme the body uses to manufacture coenzyme Q10, the most important antioxidant for the cardiovascular system. Consequently, coenzyme Q10 tissue levels are lowered and numerous side effects occur.
If you suffer from Fibromyalgia, statins are definitely not for you. Statins have been proven to turn on the gene that causes muscle damage leading to atrophy (shrinkage) and wasting. It’s a given. Everyone (that’s 100% of the time) taking statins gets muscle damage. It’s just a question of degree. You may not have muscle pain or weakness now from taking a statin but you definitely have microscopic muscle damage.
The most serious form of muscle damage is called rhabdomyolysis (major muscle cell death) and is said to occur in only 1% of statin users. This damage is permanent and only partial relief is seen when the statin is stopped. At least 5 – 7% of statin users report varying degrees of muscle pain or discomfort. That percentage goes up to 10% in those using higher statin doses and to 25% in those engaged in regular vigorous exercise. These are facts based on research done using muscle biopsies. Let’s not forget that the heart itself is a muscle. Statin use has been shown to worsen the signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure perhaps through this muscle wasting effect.
Cardiomyopathy is a known but under-reported side effect of statins and is thought to be due to a combination of statin induced coenzyme Q10 deficiency and the gene activation of muscle damage. Unfortunately, we cannot do biopsies as readily on the heart so heart muscle damage caused by statins could only be proven at autopsy.
The nerve damaging effects of statins are also well documented. Memory and cognitive loss, neuropathy, anemia, cataracts, sexual dysfunction, liver dysfunction, fatigue, immune system weaknesses and mental depression side effects have often been reported. If you suffer from cancer and use statins, it’s time to rethink that repeat statin prescription.
Adverse Effects of Low Cholesterol
Cholesterol has become unfairly synonymous with evil, disease and death. At least 85% of the cholesterol in your blood came from your liver’s own manufacture of it. If you consume high cholesterol foods, your cholesterol blood levels do go higher temporarily but the liver then manufactures less and eventually the blood levels go lower. Eliminate cholesterol entirely from your diet and the liver starts manufacturing more of it.
Cholesterol blood levels can change significantly from one time of the day to another. In northern latitudes especially, higher levels of cholesterol are seen in the winter than summer, possibly because of the cholesterol lowering effect of vitamin D during the summer. Cholesterol goes high after an injury such as can occur with surgery. It can also go higher as a response to mental stress, an infection as well as during and after a heart attack.
Why does the body go to such lengths to maintain cholesterol levels if it’s something that is so horrible? Are there good reasons to have adequate amounts of cholesterol in the body? Overwhelmingly, the answer is yes. Cholesterol is a healing or repair agent and the body makes more of it as a response to oxidant stress from numerous sources. For example, if you smoke cigarettes, your cholesterol level is likely to be high because the body needs protection against the toxins found in tobacco smoke.
We are all exposed to toxins from food, water and air on a regular basis. The greater the toxin exposure, the more the body needs to protect itself. One of the mechanisms by which this occurs is the production of more cholesterol by the liver. Suppress that function with a statin and you risk developing degenerative diseases more easily.
Half of all heart attacks occur with cholesterol levels well within the normal range. This “normal” range has changed frequently over the past 30 years, going lower and lower and thus accommodating the hypothesis that just about everyone has too high cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is an integral part of the structure of every cell in the body including the cells of all your blood vessels. Life would cease to exist without cholesterol. Cholesterol is used by the body to manufacture testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol and DHEA. Low levels of cholesterol could lead to deficiencies in these hormones and subsequent acceleration of aging.
Cholesterol insulates nerves and is responsible for healthy nervous system function. Many diseases of the brain and nervous system could be aggravated, if not caused by, low cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol deficiency could lead to numerous digestive system problems because bile salts are made in the liver from cholesterol and bile salts are important for proper digestion.
The body also manufactures vitamin D from cholesterol and, if cholesterol levels are low, a vitamin D deficiency could result. As we now all know, low levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of getting cancer by as much as 60%. Could this be one of the mechanisms by which statin drugs increase cancer incidence? Low levels of vitamin D have been proven to weaken immunity.
The brain accounts for approximately a quarter of all the cholesterol in the body. The myelin sheath that covers every nerve in the body is made of at least one-fifth cholesterol. The communication between nerves and the integrity of messages between neurons is partially dependent on adequate cholesterol levels. The brain functions abnormally without adequate cholesterol because receptors for serotonin require cholesterol to work properly. Depression, violence, memory impairment and suicide are all more likely to occur.
It has never been conclusively shown that lowering cholesterol levels saves lives. Certainly, its efficacy in preventing a first heart attack is unproven. Lowering cholesterol can, in fact, be related to a greater death risk, especially from cancer.
Since the correlation between total cholesterol and heart disease is practically non-existent, a stronger correlation was sought many years ago. Hence the myth of a “good” (HDL or high density lipoprotein) and a “bad” (LDL or low density lipoprotein) cholesterol was created. The truth is that cholesterol is just cholesterol. In the blood, it combines with other things like proteins simply because fat and water do not mix well and proteins are good carriers of fat molecules.
The real cause of heart disease of almost any type is inflammation and not the levels of any cholesterol sub fraction. Where the inflammation comes from is the subject of great debate but there is growing evidence for an infectious disease source amongst many other theories.
We are now being told more and more by Big Pharma and their puppets that statins are also anti-inflammatory and that the real reason they work in preventing heart disease is through their anti-inflammatory effect. Curcumin, omega-3 oils, vitamin E, vitamin C, digestive enzymes like pancreatin and bromelain and many other natural remedies are also anti-inflammatory and at a significantly lower price. Further, none carry any of the outrageous side effects seen with the statins.
What Are the Alternatives?
High cholesterol levels are a response by the body to a variety of physical toxins and mental stress. Heredity also plays a part but can be overcome naturally. The first thing to do is find out what is really going wrong in the body? Is there an infection? Is something causing inflammation? What are the toxins that could potentially be involved? Is there a low thyroid condition? Does the person smoke cigarettes? Is blood sugar control out of balance? Is there little or no physical activity? Is there obesity?
The next thing is to realize that eating a diet rich in antioxidants and as toxin-free as possible can lower high cholesterol levels naturally and without significant side effects. In 2003, a study done by the University of Toronto showed that a vegetarian diet (Ape Man Diet) was every bit as good at lowering abnormally high cholesterol levels as any drug.
It is also interesting that most of the supplemental nutriceuticals, antioxidants and herbs that have been shown to lower cholesterol accomplish this feat by neutralizing the toxic agents that stimulated the high cholesterol levels in the first place. Below is a list of things that can be done through diet and supplements to lower cholesterol naturally. Seeing a natural health care practitioner can help direct you in any changes you may want to make.
Diet
The so-called Ape Man Diet (primarily vegan as demonstrated by what gorillas eat) has been demonstrated to lower cholesterol as well as any statin. But, can we really eat like apes?
If you cannot fancy yourself as an ape, at least consume two or more servings of each of the following proven cholesterol lowering foods every day:
Soy products like tofu, tempeh and soymilk contain saponins which prevent the absorption of excess cholesterol from the gastrointestinal tract.
High pectin fruits like pears, apples, grapefruit and oranges also prevent cholesterol absorption. Drinking pomegranate juice also lowers cholesterol because of its antioxidants and polyphenols.
Garlic, onions, carrots, walnuts, almonds, oat bran cereal, milled (ground) flax seed, seaweed products like kelp, dulse and kombu lower cholesterol via their content of fiber, antioxidants and trace minerals.
Supplements
Cholesterol lowering with most of these natural remedies can take 3 months or longer to achieve. Unlike drugs, side effects of such products are minimal.
Soluble fibers like psyllium, guar gum and pectin -15 grams or more daily.
Milled flax seed – 15 grams or more daily.
Curcumin – 1000 mg 3 times daily – strongly anti-inflammatory and liver protective. It aims at lowering inflammation, tissue damage and ultimately high cholesterol levels.
Omega-3 oils – 2000 mg twice daily - Prevent abnormal blood clotting and reduce the risk of heart disease. Higher doses may be required by some individuals.
Garlic – 1000 mg. or more daily – eating real garlic cloves is preferred but social interactions may necessitate the alternative use of supplemental capsules.
Coenzyme Q10 – 200 mg. twice daily – a strong multi-purpose antioxidant with especially good cardiovascular protective properties.
Niacin - 1000 - 3000 mgs. daily (N.B. niacin can cause a red or flushing reaction which is usually temporary and harmless which lessens with regular use; may cause liver irritation.
Inositol hexaniacinate - 600 - 1800 mgs. daily - a compound of niacin and inositol which does not produce flushing or liver toxicity but cost at least three times more than regular niacin.
Tocotrienols - 600 mgs. or more daily- a form of vitamin E originating from rice bran oil which blocks the cholesterol synthesizing enzyme in the liver. Most vitamin E complex formulae include tocotrienols as part of the complex.
Vitamin C - 3000-6000 mgs. - lowers cholesterol, regenerates and reactivates vitamin E. Vitamin C protects the body from oxidant stress, thereby lowering cholesterol.
Beta Sitosterol - (500 mg daily) Over 50 human and animal studies since the 1960’s and published in scientific journals, show that beta-sitosterol has a powerful hypocholesterolemic effect in humans. It has a similar chemical structure to cholesterol. Beta-sitosterol interferes with cholesterol absorption, which prevents the rise in serum cholesterol. In one study (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) there was 42% decrease in cholesterol absorbed when taking beta-sitosterol before eating scrambled eggs. Beta-sitosterol is also believed to reduce serum cholesterol by inhibiting the intestinal re-absorption of circulating cholesterol, which is secreted in the bile.
Berberine – 1000 mg. 3 times daily – an extract of several herbs used for their antibiotic properties and cholesterol and triglyceride lowering ability. It also has antioxidant benefits.
Artichoke leaf extract – 1000 mg. 3 times daily – works by enhancing bile acid production by the liver from cholesterol.
Guggulsterones – 1000 mg daily – a resin from the Guggul tree with antioxidant properties but also able to lower cholesterol by regulating bile metabolism.
Ferulic acid – 1000 mg daily – lowers cholesterol by as yet an unidentified mechanism; known to be a strong antioxidant.
Green tea extract (Theaflavin) – 500 mg 3 times daily – a polyphenol derived from catechins found in green tea that has both cholesterol lowering and antioxidant effects.
Red Yeast Rice – 1000 mg twice daily – if you are between 50 and 75 years old and have proven coronary artery disease or have had a heart attack you may want to take this naturally occurring statin as an anti-inflammatory preventive remedy. Side effects are minimal according to a 2005 study.
REFERENCES
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Jun-ichi Hanai1, Peirang Cao1, Preeti Tanksale1, Shintaro Imamura2,3, Eriko Koshimizu3,4, Jinghui Zhao5, Shuji Kishi3, Michiaki Yamashita2, Paul S. Phillips6, Vikas P. Sukhatme1 and Stewart H. Lecker1 The muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase atrogin-1/MAFbx mediates statin-induced muscle toxicity J. Clin. Invest. 117(12): 3940-3951 (2007). doi:10.1172/JCI32741.
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Sinatra, Stephen, MD. Clearing Up the Cholesterol Confusion
http://www.townsendletter.com/June2009/clearingcholesterol0609.htm
Joseph Mecola.The Dangers of Statin Drugs (a 3-part article)
http://www.mercola.com/2004/jul/28/statin_drugs.htm
Sally Fallon and Mary Enig. How Statins Work
http://www.westonaprice.org/moderndiseases/statin.html
The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics (THINCS) (links to papers)
http://www.thincs.org/
Cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease. Dr. Ron Rosedale.http://www.drrosedale.com/resources/pdf/Cholesterol%20is%20NOT%20the%20cause%20of%20heart%20disease.pdf
Can drinking pomegranate juice help lower my cholesterol?
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pomegranate-juice/AN01227
Curcumin's cholesterol-lowering mechanism proposed
http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Curcumin-s-cholesterol-lowering-mechanism-proposed
Ape Man Diet Lowers Cholesterol And Inflammation Markerhttp://www.futurepundit.com/archives/001516.html
Treatment of Statin Damage (aside from visiting a malpractice lawyer). http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/2008/04/23/treatment_of_statin_damage.htm
Zoltan Rona
Author