Low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's

This study was published in the Archives of Neurology 2004 May;61(5):705-14

Study title and authors:
Relation of plasma lipids to Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.

Reitz C, Tang MX, Luchsinger J, Mayeux R.
Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15148148

This study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. (Vascular dementia is caused by problems in the supply of blood to the brain usually from a stroke). The study included 4,316 participants aged 65 years and older.

The study found:
(a) The risk of prevalent Alzheimer's was 28% higher in those who had low cholesterol, under 172 mg/gL (4.4 mmol/L), compared to those with cholesterol levels between 197-225 mg/dL (5.1-5.8 mmol/L).
(b) The risk of prevalent Alzheimer's was 34% higher in those who had low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, under 37 mg/gL (.95 mmol/L), compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels over 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L).
(c) The risk of prevalent vascular dementia was 20% higher in those who had low cholesterol, under 172 mg/gL (4.4 mmol/L), compared to those with cholesterol levels between 197-225 mg/dL (5.1-5.8 mmol/L).
(d) The risk of prevalent vascular dementia was 40% higher in those who had low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, under 37 mg/gL (.95 mmol/L), compared to those with high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels over 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L).

The data from the study reveals that low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer's.

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Statins increase the risk of diabetes

This study was published in Circulation 2010; 122: A14293

Study title and authors:
Does Therapy With Statins Increase Risk Of Diabetes?
Renata Giudice; Giovanni de Simone; Raffaele Izzo; Marina De Marco; Valentina Trimarco; Teresa Migliore; Gerardo Carpinella; Marcello Chinali; Nicola De Luca; Bruno Trimarco
Federico University, Naples, Italy                 
                       
This study can be accessed at: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/122/21_MeetingAbstracts/A14293

This study evaluated the risk of diabetes in relation to statin therapy in patients free of diabetes at the start of the study. The study included 1,760 non-diabetic participants, (average age 52 years), who were followed for 3.5 years.

The study found by the end of the follow-up period, prevalence of new diabetes was 199% higher in patients on statins compared to those not taking statins.                    

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High cholesterol levels associated with exceptional longevity in men

This study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine 2008 Feb 11;168(3):284-90

Study title and authors:
Exceptional longevity in men: modifiable factors associated with survival and function to age 90 years.

Yates LB, Djoussé L, Kurth T, Buring JE, Gaziano JM.
Division of Aging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 1620 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120, USA. lbyates@partners.org

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18268169

 

The study examined factors associated with a life span of 90 or more in men. The study lasted 25 years and included 2,357 men.

 

Regarding cholesterol levels, the study found that men with cholesterol above 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L) had an 8% increased likelihood of achieving a 90 year life span compared to men with cholesterol levels below 240 mg/dL (6.2 mmol/L).

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Rhabdomyolysis induced by statins

This paper was published in Clinical Chemistry 1990 Dec;36(12):2145-7

Study title and authors:
Rhabdomyolysis secondary to lovastatin therapy.

Manoukian AA, Bhagavan NV, Hayashi T, Nestor TA, Rios C, Scottolini AG.
Department of Pathology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96822.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2253372

This paper reports a case of lovastatin (Mevacor)-induced rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown which may lead to kidney damage).

(i) A 59 year old woman was admitted to hospital with a two day history of shortness of breath and difficulty walking. She had been discharged from hospital two weeks earlier for congestive heart failure and, since discharge, had experienced progressive weight gain and swelling of the feet and ankles such that walking had become difficult.
(ii) For 13 days before admission to hospital she had been taking lovastatin, 20 mg orally twice a day.
(iii) On the second hospital day she complained of profound muscle weakness in her lower extremities which progressed over several hours to include the upper extremities. In addition she could no longer walk because of severe pain.
(iv) Creatine kinase levels increased from 157 U/L two weeks before admission to 176,500 U/L on the twelfth hospital day. (High creatine kinase levels are a marker for rhabdomyolysis).
(v) The patient's symptoms and creatine kinase levels resolved after discontinuation of the statin drug.

As well as inhibiting the body from producing cholesterol, statins also repress the production of several other biologically essential compounds such as coenzyme Q10 and heme A which are important components in the system of mitochondrial energy production.

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell. They are tiny cellular organelles that take in nutrients, break them down, and create energy for the cells.

Dr Manoukian speculates that the rhabdomyolysis was due to statin-induced mitochondrial damage secondary to inadequate synthesis of coenzyme Q10 and heme A.

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Walking increases longevity in the elderly

This study was published in Maturitas 2012 Dec 29. pii: S0378-5122(12)00400-8

 

Study title and authors:

Walking four times weekly for at least 15min is associated with longevity in a Cohort of very elderly people.

Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Sperati A, Pacifici R, Zuccaro P, Francesco F, Agabiti N, Piras G, Amleto D, Ebrahim S.

Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IDI-IRCSS, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: c.fortes@idi.it.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23280132

This study investigated the role of walking outdoors on longevity. The study lasted for ten years and included 152 self-caring and mobile elderly people, average age 80 years.

The study found that elderly people who walked in the open air for at least 15 minutes, four times a week had a 40% decreased risk of death compared to individuals who walked less than four times a week.   

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Autoimmune hepatitis can be triggered by statins

This paper was published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology 2006 Sep;40(8):757-61

 

Study title and authors:

Autoimmune hepatitis triggered by statins.

Alla V, Abraham J, Siddiqui J, Raina D, Wu GY, Chalasani NP, Bonkovsky HL.

Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16940892

This paper describes three patients in whom it is probable that statins initiated the development of autoimmune hepatitis. (Autoimmune hepatitis is inflammation of the liver that occurs when immune cells mistake the liver's normal cells for harmful invaders and attack them).

(i) Two men (aged 47 and 51) and one woman (aged 57) developed autoimmune hepatitis after the initiation of statin therapy.
(ii) The woman developed hepatitis due to statins on two separate occasions: the first in 1999, due to simvastatin, and the second in 2001 to 2002, due to atorvastatin, which was severe and persisted even after discontinuing medication.
(iii) In the two men, exposure to statins preceded development of autoimmune hepatitis, which persisted despite discontinuing medications.
(iv) Three similar previously reported cases were noted.

The researchers concluded that the three cases reported here and three similar previously reported cases, indicate that severe, ongoing autoimmune hepatitis can be triggered by statins.

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Red meat is a rich source of micronutrients

This study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition 2005 Jun;93(6):933-42

 

Study title and authors:

Consumption of red meat, white meat and processed meat in Irish adults in relation to dietary quality.

Cosgrove M, Flynn A, Kiely M.

Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Republic of Ireland.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16022764

The aim of the study was to examine the association of red meat, white meat and processed meat consumption in Irish adults with dietary quality. The study reviewed the diets of 662 men and 717 women (not pregnant or lactating) aged 18-64 years.

The study found:
(a) Red meat consumers had higher Zinc, niacin and vitamin B₁₂ intakes than did non-consumers.
(b) Red meat consumers also had a lower prevalence of inadequacy of micronutrient intakes particularly for iron, Zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin and vitamins B₆, B₁₂ and vitamin C.
(c) There were no differences in micronutrient intakes between white meat consumers and non-consumers.
(d) Processed meat consumption was associated with lower micronutrient intakes and higher levels of inadequacy of iron, folate and vitamin C intakes, particularly among women.

The study demonstrates that red meat consumers had relatively high intakes of micronutrients, particularly copper, Zinc, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamins B₆ and B₁₂. On the other hand, processed meat consumption was associated with poor adequacy of micronutrient intakes.

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