Questions about STATINS

Dr. Beatrice Golomb answers questins about statins. Dr. Golomb's CV: http://medicine.ucsd.edu/faculty/golomb/

NOTE: Link at end of Golomb interview on POLYNEUROPATHY and statins, symptoms of which include facial weakness difficulty walking difficulty using the arms and hands or legs and feet sensation changes (usually of the arms and hands or legs and feet), such as pain, burning, tingling, numbness, or decreased sensation swallowing difficulty speech impairment loss of muscle function or feeling in the muscles joint pain hoarseness or changing voice fatigue

Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD on Statin Drugs
March 7, 2002
http://www.coloradohealthsite.org/topics/interviews/ golomb.html
On February 1, 2002, CHS posted a Patient Alert about Statin Drugs.
According to an article in the Wall St. Journal, doctors and patients have noted several side effects of the most widely prescribed drugs in the U.S. - statins (some brand names are Lipitor, Zocor, and
Provachol). Common complaints of patients taking statins include memory loss, personality changes, irritability, and aching muscle pain. The article also noted that the National Institutes of Health is in the midst of an independent study that will subject statin drugs and their side effects to scientific scrutiny.

Dr. Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD, is the Principal Investigator of the
NIH study. Dr. Golomb is affiliated with the University of California at San Diego. In this interview, Dr. Golomb answers questions posed to her by Janet Williams, Colorado HealthSite librarian.

Question: We understand that cholesterol is a nutrient which occurs naturally in the body and is essential for cell functioning. How low should one's LDL-cholesterol level be reduced before this nutrient is depleted? Is the age of the patient relevant in determining the appropriate level of LDL cholesterol?

more at url...

Oh well, I guess I'm being ignored by Zee and Lohse.

Predictable, I suppose.

L.

...."the substantial protective effect of statins, particularly on coronary artery disease, is well documented and by far outweighs the potential risk of statin-induced polyneuropathy."

Statins and Risk of Polyneuropathy: A Case-control Study, by D. Gaist,
MD, PhD; U. Jeppesen, MD, PhD; M. Andersen, MD, PhD; L. A. Garcia
Rodriguez, MD, MSc; J. Hallas, MD, PhD; and S. H. Sindrup MD, PhD;
Neurology, May 2002.

"...high blood levels of cholesterol do bear a relation to heart disease risk; and statin drugs that lower cholesterol reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are primary causes of death and disability, respectively, in the US:

Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD on Statin Drugs
March 7, 2002 interview

Not at all. I made my submission about 5 hours ago. As our system has been slow due to spam-attack, perhaps your provider's system has also slowed down due to similar attack.

Anyone who reads the study "Statins and the Risk of Polyneuropathy" (linked at the bottom of the interview) conclusion will see:

Despite their findings, however, the authors remind us that statins also have known benefits in protecting against coronary artery disease. In fact, the authors tell us that "the substantial protective effect of statins, particularly on coronary artery disease, is well documented and by far outweighs the potential risk of statin-induced polyneuropathy."

How does this statement fit in with your view that everyone suffers damage from statins. I'm confused and look forward to your elucidation of this apparent dichotomy.

[This has all been posted before...no matter...]

Would you kindly respond to the following statement by Dr. Golomb (in her reply to the first question you quote above)

"Nonetheless, high blood levels of cholesterol do bear a relation to heart disease risk; and statin drugs that lower cholesterol reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are primary causes of death and disability, respectively, in the US."

I look forward to your reply.