The lower your cholesterol is, the more likely you are to die

This study was published in Nippon Eiseigaku Zasshi (Japanese Journal of Hygiene) Vol. 62 (2007), No. 1 p.39-46

Study title and authors: Estimation of Effect of Lipid Lowering Treatment on Total Mortality Rate and Its Cost-Effectiveness Determined by Intervention Study of Hypercholesterolemia

Chihoko KAME1), Akira BABAZONO2) and Eiji YAMAMOTO3)

1) Department of Health Care Administration and Management, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University 2) Department of Health Care Administration and Management, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Kyushu University 3) Department of Information Science, Faculty of Informatics, Okayama University of Science This study can be accessed at: http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjh/62/1/62_39/_article

This study analyzed data from 55,000 people aged between 35 and 70 and estimated the effects on death rates of cholesterol levels decreasing from 240-259 mg/dL (6.24-6.73 mmol/l) to 160-179 mg/dL (4.2-4.6 mmol/l) by use of drug therapy.


See the graphs below for results:



For a larger image click here



For a larger image click here


The results show: 

(a) In men, cholesterol levels falling from 240-259 mg/dL (6.24-6.73 mmol/l) to 160-179 mg/dL (4.2-4.6 mmol/l) would increase the death rate by 145%.

(b) In women, cholesterol levels falling from 240-259 mg/dL (6.24-6.73 mmol/l) to 160-179 mg/dL (4.2-4.6 mmol/l) would increase the death rate by 154%.

To conclude: The study showed that it is very clear that the lower your cholesterol is, the more likely you are to die. This was the same for all ages between 35 and 70, and for both sexes.

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High consumption of soft drinks lead to a 93% increased risk of pancreatic cancer

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 84, No. 5, 1171-1176, November 2006.

Study title and authors:

Consumption of sugar and sugar-sweetened foods and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a prospective study

Susanna C Larsson, Leif Bergkvist and Alicja Wolk

From the Division of Nutritional Epidemiology, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden (SCL and AW), and the Department of Surgery and the Centre for Clinical Research, Central Hospital, Västerås, Sweden (LB)

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ajcn.org/content/84/5/1171.full

The objective of the study was to examine the association of the consumption of added sugar (ie, sugar added to coffee, tea, cereals, etc) and of high-sugar foods with the risk of pancreatic cancer in a study of  77,797 women and men aged 45–83 over a period of 7.2 years.

The study found:

(a) Those who consumed the highest amount of added sugar had a 69% higher risk of having pancreatic cancer compared with those who consumed the lowest.

(b) Those who consumed the highest amount of soft drinks had a 93% higher risk of having pancreatic cancer compared with those who consumed the lowest.

(c) Those who consumed the highest amount of sweetened fruit soups or stewed fruit had a 51% higher risk of having pancreatic cancer compared with those who consumed the lowest.

To conclude: High consumption of sugar and high-sugar foods may be associated with a greater risk of pancreatic cancer.

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63.5% of patients report experiencing side-effects due to statins

This study was published in the Eastern Mediterranean health Journal 2011 May;17(5):460-4.

Study title and authors:
Patients' report of statins use and side-effects in a sample of hospitalized cardiac patients in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Mashayekhi SO, Ghandforoush-Sattari M, Baghdadchi ME, Kheyri M.
National Public Health Management Centre, Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. mashayekhis@yahoo.co.uk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21796961

The aim of the study was to ascertain the prevalence of the side-effects of statins among patients admitted to a cardiac-specialized hospital who had taken statins prior to hospitalization.

Data was collected on 200 patients, average age 61.5 years of which 63% were males.

The study found that 63.5% of patients reported experiencing side-effects due to statins.

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Soy formula linked with early onset fibroids

This study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives 2011 Nov 2

Study title and authors

Early-Life Exposures and Early Onset Uterine Leiomyomata in Black Women in the Sister Study.

D'Aloisio AA, Baird DD, Deroo LA, Sandler DP.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22049383

Uterine leiomyomata (fibroids) are hormonally responsive tumors, but little is known about risk factors. Early-life exposures may influence uterine development and subsequent response to hormones in adulthood.

The study evaluated associations of early-life and childhood exposures with early onset fibroids in 3,534 black women.

D'Aloisio found that the dietary risk factor for the development of fibroids was having been fed soy formula.

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High saturated fat diet can lower the risk of heart attack and stroke

This study was published in Lipid Insights 2011 August 23; 2011(4): 7–15

Study title and authors:

Dietary Carbohydrate Modifies the Inverse Association Between Saturated Fat Intake and Cholesterol on Very Low-Density Lipoproteins

A.C. Wood, E.K. Kabagambe, I.B. Borecki, H.K. Tiwari, J.M. Ordovas, and D.K. Arnett

Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3170517/?tool=pubmed

Having high triglyceride and high Very Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol levels means you may have an increased risk of coronary artery disease, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

The study investigated the relationship between dietary saturated fat, and triglyceride and Very Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol levels in 1036 men and women, average age 49.

The study found that: The higher the saturated fat intake in the diet, the lower the triglyceride and Very Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol levels when subjects consumed a low carbohydrate diet. This was not the case at higher intakes of carbohydrate.

To conclude: The study shows that a high saturated fat diet can decrease risk factors pertaining to heart attack and stroke when consumed with a low carbohydrate diet.

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Statin use increases muscle damage after exercise (including the heart muscle)

This study was published in the American Journal of Cardiology 2011 Oct 27

Study title and authors:

Effect of Statins on Creatine Kinase Levels Before and After a Marathon Run.

Parker BA, Augeri AL, Capizzi JA, Ballard KD, Troyanos C, Baggish AL, D'Hemecourt PA, Thompson PD.

Henry Low Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22036108

Elevation of creatine kinase levels is an indication of damage to muscle. It is therefore indicative of injury, rhabdomyolysis (kidney damage), heart attack, inflammation of the muscles and inflammation of the heart muscle.
The study measured total creatine kinase levels, and the levels of creatine kinase in the heart muscle in 37 subjects treated with statins and 43 nonstatin-treated controls running the 2011 Boston Marathon.

The study found:

(a) The exercise-related increase in creatine kinase 24 hours after exercise, was greater in the statin users than in the controls.
(b) The increase in creatine kinase in the heart muscle 24 hours after exercise was also greater in the statin users than in the controls.
(c) Older runners who were statin users had higher increases in creatine kinase.

To conclude: The results of the study show that statins increase exercise-related muscle injury (including the heart muscle).

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Statin users have a 37% increase in gastric cancer risk

This paper was published in Hepatogastroenterology 2011 May-Jun;58(107-108):1057-61

Study title and author:

Statins and gastric cancer risk.

Shimoyama S

Gastrointestinal Unit, Settlement Clinic, Towa, Tokyo, Japan. shimoyama@apost.plala.or.jp

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21830442

This paper reviewed the scientific literature concerning the effect of statins on gastric cancer incidence published between 1993 and 2008.

The author found:
(a) Statin users had a 37% increase in gastric cancer risk.
(b) Statin users had a 20% increase in upper gastrointestinal cancer.

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