STATINS AND CANCER

Yesterday, a british national newspaper ran an article suggesting that statins can reduce the risk of cancer. The article refers to statins as “superpills” and reinforces all of the common myths about cholesterol. 

The article refers to a recently published study in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, however, the newspaper fails to mention several key points. Firstly, that the study they refer to is an observational study and not clinical trial data. And secondly, that statin clinical trials have tended to exclude cancer patients from the data analysis.

This newspaper article is so biased, it is difficult to see it as anything more than an advertisement for the pharmaceutical companies that make statins.

An alternative view of the link between statins and cancer can been seen in the video clip below. Dr Uffe Ravnskov and Dr Paul Rosch introduce some of the concerns regarding statins and cancer:

Dr Ravnskov and Dr Rosch (along with Dr McCully) have also published a research paper about statins, low cholesterol and cancer in a leading medical journal. Unfortunately, this research paper. like so many others that challenge big pharmaceutical companies, do not get the media attention that they deserve.

New Study Confirms Statins Cause Eye Problems

A new study confirms cholesterol-lowering statin drugs cause eye problems. 

Medscape News reports: "Statin users are more than 50% likelier to develop age-related cataracts... And type 2 diabetics who use statins are at even greater risk of cataracts"

This is hardly a surprise since the lens membrane of the eye requires a constant supply of cholesterol. In fact, the lens membrane contains the highest cholesterol content of any known membrane. This cholesterol has to be synthesised locally. Statins of course, impair this cholesterol production and can therefore cause an alteration in the function of the lens.

Dr Richard Karas from Tuffs University School of Medicine tried to play down these findings by trying to suggest that these eye problems eventually afflict everyone. Another example of the statin supporters ignoring the damage caused by statins.

Medscape Today Article (free registration may be required)

Pubmed Abstract