• Chapter 34: "I’m on Antioxidants, But My Cholesterol is Still High!"
• Chapter 35: Age and Arterial Calcifications
• Chapter 36: Low Free Testosterone Levels in Men are Associated with an Increased Risk of Heart Disease

Chapter Excerpts

I knew it would be better if she had a lower LDL cholesterol level and took antioxidants, but I agreed with her about not going on the cholesterol-lowering drug.
…To her relief, her level of oxidized LDL cholesterol was much lower than what is considered normal. It was better than “good.” Her percentage of oxidized LDL cholesterol was so low it amazed even me. Brenda was set free from the Cholesterol Conspiracy.

Calcium and magnesium imbalances lead to osteoporosis and calcium deposits in the arteries.

In a recent study in men’s health, doctors measuring the degree of coronary artery disease, diagnosed with angioplasty, found that even more important than cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, and obesity, the major predictors for the severity of atherosclerosis turned out to be age, low levels of HDL cholesterol, and low levels of free testosterone.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.

Chapter References

• 163: Chandalia M, Garg A, Lutjohann D, von Bergmann K, Grundy SM, Brinkley LJ. Beneficial effects of high dietary fiber intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med. 2000 May;342(19):1392-8.
• 163: Lawrence F. Bielak, John A. Rumberger, Patrick F. Sheedy, II, Robert S. Schwartz, and Patricia A. Peyser. Probabilistic model for prediction of angiographically defined obstructive coronary artery disease using electron beam computed tomography calcium score strata. Circulation 2000 102: 380-385.
• 164: O’Rourke R, Brundage B, Froelicher V, et al. American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Expert Consensus Document on electron-beam computed tomography for the diagnosis and prognosis of coronary artery disease. J Amer Coll Cardiol 2000 36(1):326-340.
• 165: Howe A, Webster W. Warfarin exposure and calcification of the arterial system in the rat. Int J Exp Pathol 2000 Feb;81(1):51-56.
• 166: Vermeer C, Schurgers L. A comprehensive review of vitamin K and vitamin K antagonists. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2000 Apr;14(2):339-353.
• 167: Phillips GB, Pinkernell BH, Jing TY. Are major risk factors for myocardial infarction the major predictors of degree of coronary artery disease in men? Metabolism 2004 Mar;53(3):324-329.
• 168: Dobrizycki S, Serwatka W, Nadlewski S, et al. An assessment of correlation between endogenous sex hormone levels and the extensiveness of coronary heart disease and the ejection fraction of the left ventricle in males. J Med Invest. 2003 Aug;50(3-4):162-169.
• 169: Muller M, van den Beld AW, Bots ML, Grobbee DE, Lamberts SW, van der Schouw YT. Endogenous sex hormones and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in elderly men. Circulation 2004 May 4;109(17):2074-79.
• 170: Dzugan SA, Smith RA. Hypercholesterolemia treatment: a new hypothesis or just an accident? Med Hypothesis. 2002 Dec;59(6):751-6.
• 171: Dzugan SA, Smith RA. Broad spectrum restoration in natural steroid hormones as possible treatment for hypercholesterolemia. Bull Urg Rec Med. 2002;3(2):278-284.
• 172: Chen C, et al. Endogenous sex hormones and prostate cancer risk: a case-control study nested within the carotene and retinal efficacy trial. Cancer Epidimeiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003 Dec;12(12):1410-1416.
• 173: Stattin P, Lumme S, Tenkanen L, et al. High levels of circulating testosterone are not associated with increased prostate cancer risk: a pooled prospective study. Int J Cancer. 2004 Jan 20;108(3):418-424.
• 174: Rhoden EL, Morgentaler A. Testosterone replacement therapy in hypgonadal men at high risk for prostate cancer: results of 1 year of treatment in men with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. J Urol. 2003 Dec;170(6 Pt 1):2348-2351.
• 175: Raivio T, Santti H, Schatzl G, et al. Reduced circulating androgen bioactivity in patients with prostate cancer. Prostate. 2003 May 15;55(3):194-198.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.

• Chapter 33: Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants, and Essential Fatty Acids: The Real Way to Reduce the Risk of Death from Heart Disease and Stroke – Part 3

Chapter Excerpts

Alpha-Lipoic Acid works in many ways to protect against disease and maintain health. ALA protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation, reduces the inflammatory reaction of the arteries, along with magnesium helps to maintain a health blood pressure. Alpha-Lipoic Acid works together with co-enzyme Q10 in the metabolism of sugar into energy.

Olive Oil and Olive Oil Extracts contain polyphenol antioxidants that are in part responsible for the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. Studies have shown those who consume more of these antioxidant compounds have a greatly reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, let alone a prolongation of life.

Fish oil supplements (containing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) have been shown to decrease the risk of cardiac death greater than the use of statin drugs, …and without any toxic side-effects. Thus, more evidence of the Cholesterol Conspiracy.

In addition to magnesium supplementation, researchers are finding promise in the higher rates of survival after heart attacks when high-dose antioxidants are commenced shortly after such an attack.

Diets high in both soluble and insoluble fiber help reduce blood lipid levels, cholesterol, and insulin intolerance.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.

Chapter References

• 130: Zhang WJ, Frei B. Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits TNF-alpha-induced NFkappa B activation and adhesion molecule expression in human aortic endothelial cells. FASEB J 2001 Nov;15(13):2423-2432.
• 131: El Midaoui A, de Champlain J. Prevention of hypertension, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress by alpha-lipoic acid. Hypertension 2002 Feb;39(2):303-307.
• 132: Takaoka M, et al. Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on deoxycorticos-terone acetate-salt-induced hypertension in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2001 Jul;20;424(2):121-129.
• 133: Koufaki M, et al. Novel potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation with protective effects against reperfusion arrhythmias. J Med Chem 2001 Nov 22;44(24):4300-4303.
• 134: Gonzalez-Perez O, Gonzalez-Castaneda R, Huerta M, et al. Beneficial effects of -lipoic acid plus vitamin E on neurological deficit, reactive gliosis and neuronal remodeling in the penumbra of the ischemic rat brain. Neuroscience Letters, 2002 March 15, 321(5);1:100-104.
• 135: Chen C et al. Endogenous sex hormones and prostate cancer risk: a case-control study nested within the carotene and retinal efficacy trial. Cancer Epidimeiol Biomarkers Prev. 2003 Dec;12(12):1410-1416.
• 136: Upritchard J, Suterhland W, Mann J. Effect of supplementation with tomato juice, vitamin E, and vitamin C oxidation and products of inflammatory activity in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2000 Jun;23(6):733-738.
• 137: Decker E, et al. Inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation by carnosine histidine. J Agric Food Chem 2001 Jan;49(1):511-516.
• 138: Owen RW, et al. Olive oil consumption and health: the possible role of antioxidants. Lancet Oncol, 2000, Oct., 1:107-12.
• 139: Visioli F, et al. Antioxidant and other biological activities of phenols from olives and olive oil. Med Res Rev. 2002 Jan;22(1):65-75.
• 140: Simopoulos Ap. The traditional diet of Greece and cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2004 Jun;13(3):219-30.
• 141: Visioli F., et al. Low density lipoprotein oxidation is inhibited in vitro by olive oil constituents. Atherosclerosis. 1995 Sep;117(1):25-32.
• 142: Cullinen K. Olive oil in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Med Health R.I. 2006 Mar;89(3):113.
• 143: Nagyova A, et al. Effects of dietary extra virgin olive oil on serum lipid resistance to oxidation and fatty acid composition in elderly lipidemic patients. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2003;104(7-8):218-21.
• 144: Martinez-Gonzalez MA. The SUN cohort study (Seguimiento University of Navarra). Public Health Nutr. 2006 Feb;9(1A):127-31.
• 145: Bogani P., et al. Postprandial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of extra virgin olive oil. Atherosclerosis. 2006 Feb 17; [Epub ahead of print].
• 146: Fito M., et al. Antioxidant effect of virgin olive oil in patients with stable coronary heart disease: a randomized, crossover, controlled, clinical trial. Atherosclerosis. 2005 Jul;181(1):149-58.
• 147: Fernandez-Jarne E., et al. Risk of first non-fatal myocardial infarction negatively associated with olive oil consumption: a case-control study in Spain. Int J Epidemiol. 2002, Apr;31(2):474-80.
• 148: Visioli F., Galli C. Antiatherogenic components of olive oil. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2001. Jan;3(1):64-7.
• 149: Visioli F., et al. Low density lipoprotein oxidation is inhibited in vitro by olive oil constituents. Atherosclerosis. 1995 Sep;117(1):25-32.
• 150: Nestel P, et al. The n-3 fatty acids eiosapentaenoid acid and docosahexaenoic acid increase systemic arterial compliance in humans. Am J Clin Nutr 2002 Aug;76(2):326-330.
• 151: McLennan O. Myocardial membrane fatty acids and the antiarrhythmic actions of dietary fish oil in animal models. Lipids 2001 36 Suppl: S111-S114.
• 152: Marchioli R, Barzi F, Bomba E, et al. Early protection against sudden death by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction: time-course analysis of the results of the Gruppo Italian per lo Studio dells Soprvvivenza nell’Infarto Micardico (GISSI)-Prevenzione. Circulation. 2002 Apr 23;105:1897-1903.
• 56: Rosenson RS. Statins in atherosclerosis: lipid-lowering agents with antioxidant capabilities. Atherosclerosis. 2004. Mar;173(1):1-12.
• 57: Tsimikas S, et al. High-dose atorvastatin reduces total plasma levels of oxidized phospholipids and immune complexes present on apolipoprotein B-100 in patients with acute coronary syndromes in the MIRACL trial. Circulation. 2004 Sep 14;110(11):1406-12.
• 152: Marchioli R, Barzi F, Bomba E, et al. Early protection against sudden death by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids after myocardial infarction: time-course analysis of the results of the Gruppo Italian per lo Studio dells Soprvvivenza nell’Infarto Micardico (GISSI)-Prevenzione. Circulation. 2002 Apr 23;105:1897-1903.
• 154: Bernier M, et al. Reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and oxygen-derived free radicals. Circulation Res. 1986 58:331-340.
• 203: Studer M, et al. Effect of different antilipidemic agents and diets on mortality: a systematic review. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2005 Apr 11;165(7):725-30.
• 153: Grech E, et. al. Reperfusion injury after acute myocardial infarction. Brit Med J 1995 310:477-478.
• 154: Bernier M, et al. Reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and oxygen-derived free radicals. Circulation Res. 1986 58:331-340.
• 155: Chamiec T, et al. Effects of antioxidant vitamins C and E on signalaveraged electrocardiogram in acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 1996 77:277-281.
• 156: Dzizinskii AA, et al. Effects of antioxidants and membrane protectors on clinical course and hemodynamics of patients of myocardial infarct. Ross Med Zh. 1992 1:32-34.
• 157: Kramer J, et al. Magnesium-deficiency potentiates free radical production associated with post-ischemic injury to rat hearts: vitamin E affords protection. Free Rad Bio Med. 1994 16:6:713-723.
• 158: Altura BM. Cardiovascular risk factors and magnesium: relationships to atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease and hypertension. magnesium and trace elements. Switzerland, S. Karger AG, Basel, 1991-92;10:182-192.
• 159: Van Leer EM, et al. Dietary calcium, potassium, magnesium and blood pressure in the Netherlands. Internation J Epidem. 1995 24:6:1117-23.
• 160: Bernier M, et al. Reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and oxygen-derived free radicals. Circulation Res. 1986 58:331-340.
• 161: Chamiec T, et al. Effects of antioxidant vitamins C and E on signalaveraged electrocardiogram in acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 1996 77:277-281.
• 162: Dzizinskii AA, et al. Effects of antioxidants and membrane protectors on clinical course and hemodynamics of patients of myocardial infarct. Ross Med Zh. 1992 1:32-34.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.

• Chapter 33: Vitamins, Minerals, Antioxidants, and Essential Fatty Acids: The Real Way to Reduce the Risk of Death from Heart Disease and Stroke – Part 1

Chapter Excerpts

The answer to lowering the risk of arteriosclerosis, heart disease and stroke is to reduce the oxidative damage to the LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and the arterial lining so that plaque does not form.

The Cholesterol Conspiracy is about the makers of statin drugs hiding the truth that antioxidants work better than the statin drugs to reduce the risk of cardiac death. Antioxidants appear to be much more effective in reducing the risk of death from heart disease than current treatments using aspirin or cholesterol-lowering drugs combined.

There is a balance of D-alpha tocopherol and gamma tocopherol that is required to protect the fat and the protein components, respectively, or LDL cholesterol from oxidation. LDL that is not oxidized does not stick to the arterial walls.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.

Chapter References

• 85: Aviram M. HDL–associated paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and dietaryantioxidants attenuate lipoprotein oxidation, macrophage foam cells formation and atherosclerosis development. Pathophysiol Haemost Thromb. 2006;35(1-2):146-51.
• 86: Hertog M, Feskens E, Hollman P, Katan M, Kromhout D. Dietary antioxidant flavonoids and risk of coronary heart disease: the Zutphen Elderly study. Lancet 1993 Oct 23;342(8878):1007-1011.
• 87: Street D, et al. A population based case control study of the association of serum antioxidants and myocardial infarction. Am J Epidemiol. 1991 134:719-720.
• 88: Steinberg D, et al. Antioxidants in the prevention of human atherosclerosis. Circulation. 1992 85:6:2338-2343.
• 89: Gey K, et al. Inverse correlation between plasma vitamin E and mortality from ischemic heart disease in cross-cultural epidemiology. Am J Clin Nutri. 1991 53:326S-334S.
• 90: Stampfer M, et al. Vitamin E consumption and the risk of coronary disease in women. New Engl J Med. 1993 328:1444-1449.
• 91: Rimm E, Stampfer M, et al. Vitamin E consumption and the risk of coronary artery disease in men. New Engl J Med. 1993 328:1450-1456.
• 92: Munteanu, A. et al. Anti-atherosclerotic effects of vitamin E – Myth or reality? J Cell Mol Med., 2004, Jan-Mar;8(1):59-76.
• 93: I-Min Lee, et al. Vitamin E in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer. JAMA. 2005, Vol. 294, 56-65.
• 94: Losonczy K, et al. Vitamin E and vitamin C supplement use and risk of all-cause and coronary heart disease mortality in older persons: the established populations for epidemiologic studies of the elderly. Am J Clin Nutri. 1996 64:190-196.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.

• Chapter 31: The Importance of LDL Cholesterol
• Chapter 32: The Role of Diabetes and High Blood Sugar in the Development of Coronary Artery Disease

Chapter Excerpts

Evidence supports the theory that when a person’s total cholesterol drops below 160, the immune system is weakened. Statin drugs, i.e., cholesterol-lowering drugs, are known to suppress the immune system.

Obesity leads to diabetes through oxidation of insulin receptors, and along with the oxidation of lipids (including cholesterol) and inflammation of the arterial wall leads to heart disease, stroke, and eventually death.

Chapter References

• 74: Rauchhaus M, Clark A, Doehner W, Davos C, et al. The relationship between cholesterol and survival in patients with chronic heart failure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003 Dec 3; 42(11):1933-1940.
• 75: Fuller C, Jialal I, et al. rrr-alpha-tocopherol acetate supplementation at pharmacologic doses decreases low-density-lipoprotein oxidative susceptibility but not protein glycation in patients with diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutri. 1996 63:753-759.
• 76: Somogyi A, et al. Hypothetical connection between diabetes mellitus and free radical reactions in arteriosclerosis. Orvosi Hetilap [Hungarian] 1994 135:(33):1815-1818.
• 77: Jialal I. Effect of combined supplementation with alpha-tocopherol ascorbate and beta-carotene on low-density lipoprotein oxidation. Circulation. 1993 88:2780-2786.
• 78: Munch G, Mayer S, Michaelis J, et al. Influence of advanced glycation end-products and AGE-ingivitors on nucleation-dependent polymerization of beta-amyloid peptide. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1997 1360(1):17-29.
• 79: Hipkiss A, Michaelis J, Syrris P. Non-enzymatic glycosylation of the dipeptide L-carnosine, a potential anti-protein-cross-linking agent. FEBS Lett. 1995 371(1):81-85.
• 80: Brownson C, Hipkiss A. Carnosine reacts with a glycated protein. Free Radic Biol Med. 2000 28(10):1564-1570.
• 81: Yamano T, et al. Effect of L-carnosine on the hyperglycemia caused by intracranial injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose in rats. Neurosci Lett 2001 Nov 2;313(1-2):78-82.
• 82: Heitzer T, et al. Beneficial effects of alpha-lipoic acid and ascorbic acid on endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation in diabetic patients: relation to parameters of oxidative stress. Free Radic Biol Med 2001 Jul 1;31(1):53-61.
• 83: El Midaoui A, de Champlain J. Prevention of hypertension, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress by alpha-lipoic acid. Hypertension 2002 Feb;39(2):303-307.
• 84: Takaoka M, et al. Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertension in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 2001 Jul;20;424(2):121-129.

• Chapter 30: The Combination of Antioxidant Supplements and Statin Drugs

Chapter Excerpts

The most significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke is not the level of LDL cholesterol, but the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, homocysteine and inflammation of arterial walls. If the oxidized LDL cholesterol, homocysteine and the C reactive protein had been measured in the study, the antioxidant use would most surely have shown a protective effect.

Do not be fooled by a study here or there that shows that "antioxidants are bad" because of the changes in cholesterol levels. It is only important to the pharmaceutical industry that wants to scare you from taking vitamins and minerals…

Chapter References

• 71: Brown B, Zhao X, Chait A, et al. Simvastatin and niacin, antioxidant vitamins, or the combination for the prevention of coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2001 345(22):1583-1592.
• 72: Collins R, Peto R, Armitage J. The MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study: preliminary results. Int J Clin Pract. 2002 56(1):53-56.
• 73: Manuel-Y-Keenoy B, Vinckx M, Vertommen J, et al. Impact of Vitamin E supplementation on lipoprotein peroxidation and composition in Type 1 diabetic patients treated with Atorvastatin. Atherosclerosis 2004 Aug; 175(2):369-76.

• Chapter 28: Which Makes More Sense?
• Chapter 29: Adding Vitamins to Statin Drugs

Chapter Excerpts

Medications, even taken the way they’re prescribed, are the third leading cause of death in the United States after cardiovascular disease and cancer. Over 100,000 people die every year in the United States from taking prescription medications.

The drug manufacturers will never admit that it is the antioxidants that reduce disease and death. In order to make money, the industry needs to sell you patented drugs, …not convince you that you should be taking vitamins and minerals.

Chapter References

• 56: Rosenson RS. Statins in atherosclerosis: lipid-lowering agents with antioxidant capabilities. Atherosclerosis. 2004. Mar;173(1):1-12.
• 57: Tsimikas S, et al. High-dose atorvastatin reduces total plasma levels of oxidized phospholipids and immune complexes present on apolipoprotein B-100 in patients with acute coronary syndromes in the MIRACL trial. Circulation. 2004 Sep 14;110(11):1406-12.
• 58: Sparks DL., et al. Statin therapy in Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 2006;185:78-86.
• 59: Wolozin B., et al. Re-assessing the relationship between cholesterol, statins and Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl. 2006;185:63-70.
• 60: Nunomura A, et al. Involvement of oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2006. Jul;65(7):631-41.
• 61: Harman D. Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis: role of aging. Ann NY Acad Sci. 2006 May;1067:454-60.
• 62: Moreira PI, et al. Therapeutic options in Alzheimer’s disease. Expert Rev Neurother. 2006 Jun;6(6):897-910.
• 63: Ono K., et al. Anti-amyloidogenic effects of antioxidants: implications for the prevention and therapeutics of Alzheimer’s disease. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Jun;1762(6):575-86.
• 64: Montiel T, et al. Role of oxidative stress on beta-amyloid neurotoxicity elicited during impairment of energy metabolism in the hippocampus: Protection by antioxidants. Exp Neurol. 2006 Apr 18; [Epub ahead of print].
• 65: Ono K, Yamada M. Antioxidant compounds have potent antifibrillogenic and fibril-destabilizing effects for alpha-synuclein fibrils in vitro. J Neurochem. 2006 Apr;97(1):105-15. Epub 2006 Mar 8.
• 66: Hajieva P, Behl C. Antioxidants as a potential therapy against age-related neurodegenerative diseases: amyloid Beta toxicity and Alzheimer’s disease. Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(6):699-704.
• 38: Langsjoen P, Langsjoen A. The clinical use of HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors and the associated depletion of coenzyme Q10. A review of animal and human publications. Biofactors. 2003 18(1-4):101-111.
• 67: Passi S, Stancato A, Aleo E, Dmitrieva A, Littarru GP. Statins lower plasma and lymphocyte ugiquinol/ubiqinone without affecting other antioxidants and PUFA. Biofactors 2003 18(1-4):113-124.
• 68: Mortensen S, Leth A, Agner E, Rohde M. Dose-related decrease of serum coenzyme Q10 during treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. Mol Aspects Med. 1997 18(suppl):S137-S144.
• 69: Folkers K, Langsjoen P, Willis R, et al. Lovastatin decreases coenzyme Q10 levels in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 1990 Nov; 87(22):8931-8934.
• 70: Quiles J, Farquharson A, Ramirez-Tortosa M, et al. Coenzyme Q10 differentially moderates phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathionate peroxidase gene expression and free radicals production in malignant and non-malignant prostate cancer. Biofactors 2003 18(1-4):265-270.

• Chapter 25: Statin Drugs May Cause Depression and Possibly Suicide
• Chapter 26: Statin Drugs Impair Memory and the Ability to Think
• Chapter 27: Statin Drugs may Cause Cancer

Chapter Excerpts

Fifteen percent of those taking statin drugs develop some cognitive side effects.

The pharmaceutical industry denies that statin drugs can cause amnesia; yet in many of their own studies, memory loss was reported.

Over 5 years, of the approximately 250 women taking Lipitor®, there were 12 new cases of breast cancers, compared to one new case among the placebo group. Certainly not proof that statin drugs cause breast cancer, but a 1500% increase risk of breast cancer is enough"smoke" to be worried about a fire.

Because Co-Q10 levels are decreased by statin drugs, it is easy to predict an increased risk of prostate and breast cancer.

Chapter References

• 43: King D, Wilburn A, Wofford M, et al. Cognitive impairment associated with atorvastatin and simvastatin. Pharmacotherapy 2003 Dec; 23(12):1663-1667.
• 44: Muldoon M, Barger S, Ryan C, Flory J, et al. Effects of lovastatin on cognitive function and psychological well-being. Am J Med. 2000 May; 108(7):538-546.
• 45: Eleanor Laise. The Lipitor Dilemma, Smart Money: The Wall Street Journal Magazine of Personal Business, November 2003.
• 46: Duane Graveline, MD., Lipitor: Thief of Memory, 2004, www.buybooksontheweb.com.
• 47: Lopena O, Pharm D, Pfizer, Inc., written communication, 2002. Quoted in an email communication from Duane Graveline, spacedoc@webtv.net.
• 48: Leung, B, Sattar N, Crilly A, et al. A novel anti-inflammatory role for simvastatin in inflammatory arthritis. J Immunol 2003 170:1524-1530.
• 49: Palinski, W, et al. Immunomodulation: a new role for statins? Nature Medicine, 2000 Dec 6(12):1311-1312.
• 50: Newman T, Hulley S. Carcinogenicity of lipid-lowering drugs. JAMA 1996 Jan 3; 275(1):55-60.
• 51: Folkers K, et al. Activities of Vitamin Q10 in animal models and a serious deficiency in patients with cancer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1997 234(2):296-299.
• 52: Lockwood K, Moesgaard S, Yamamoto T, Folkers K. Progress on therapy of breast cancer with vitamin Q10 and the regression of metastases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1995 Jul 6; 212(1):172-7.
• 53: Sacks F, Pfeffer M, Moye L, et al. The effect of pravastatin on coronary events after myocardial infarction in patients with average cholesterol levels. Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial investigators. N Engl J Med. 1996 Oct 3; 335(14):1001-1009.
• 54: Boudreau D, Gardner J, Malone K, et al. The association between 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A inhibitor use and breast carcinoma risk among postmenopausal women: a case-control study. Cancer 2004 Jun 1; 100(11):2308-2316.
• 55: Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group. MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of cholesterol lowering with simvastatin in 20,536 high-risk individuals: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2002 Jul 6; 360(9326):7-22.

• Chapter 20: The Effects of Lowering Co-Enzyme Q10 with Statin Drugs
• Chapter 21: Statin Drugs May Cause Muscle Weakness & Destruction
• Chapter 22: Statin Drugs May Cause Heart Disease, Heart Failure, and Death
• Chapter 23: Statin Drugs May Damage the Liver
• Chapter 24: Stain Drugs May Damage the Brain and Nerves

Chapter Excerpts

Since all organs and all cells rely on the ubiquitous Co-Q10, the depletion of it by statin drugs causes problems everywhere in the body.

Additionally, Co-Q10 was shown to increase blood levels of vitamin E and significantly increase the levels of protective HDL. As low HDL is a major risk factor for heart disease, increasing it is a definite benefit. Statin drugs were shown not to provide any benefit beyond supplementing with Co-Q10.

Co-Q10 depletion will become more and more of a problem as the pharmaceutical industry encourages doctors to lower cholesterol levels in their patients even more than ever. Is it possible that we are going to see an epidemic of congestive heart disease and cardiomyopathy, as well as cancer, among those taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs?

So much denial exists within the cholesterol conspiracy that many doctors will not associate common side-effect symptoms and resultant diseases with the use of a statin drug… physicians and patients need to be educated regarding the symptoms of a statin drug are.

Chapter References

• 35: Cullen D, Bates D, Small S, et al. The incident reporting system does not detect adverse drug events: a problem for quality improvement. Joint Commission Journal on Quality Improvement, Oct. 1995 21(10):541-548.
• 37: Singh R, Neki N, Kartikey K, et al. Effect of coenzyme Q10 on risk of atherosclerosis in patients with recent myocardial infarction. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003 Apr; 246(1-2):75-82.
• 38: Langsjoen P, Langsjoen A. The clinical use of HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors and the associated depletion of coenzyme Q10. A review of animal and human publications. Biofactors. 2003 18(1-4):101-111.
• 39: Mortensen S. Perspectives on therapy of cardiovascular diseases with coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone). Clin Investig 1993 71(8 Supp):S116-123 and S140-144.
• 40: Langsjoen P, Folkers K, Lyson K, et al. Pronounced increase of survival of patients with cardiomyopathy when treated with coenzyme Q10 and conventional therapy. Int J Tissue React 1990 12:163-168.
• 22: Schwartz G, Olsson A, et al. Effects of atorvastatin on early recurrent ischemic events in acute coronary syndromes. JAMA 2001 285:1711-1718.
• 41: Gaist D, Jeppesen U, Andersen M, et al. Statins and risk of polyneuropathy: a case-control study. Neurology 2002 May 14; 58(9):1333-1337.

• Chapter 18: How Beneficial are Cholesterol-Lowering Statin Drugs?
• Chapter 19: Cholesterol-Lowering Statin Drugs Deplete Co-Enzyme Q10

Chapter Excerpts

Conclusion: Lipitor (R) did not reduce the number of deaths from heart attack even though it lowered LDL cholesterol… In other words, lowering LDL cholesterol made NO difference in reducing the risk of death from heart disease.

…both groups receiving Pravacol (R) suffered an increased incidence of cancer. In other words, not one life saved.
…LDL cholesterol levels did not correlate to their risk of death.
Statin drugs showed no benefit in reducing the number of overall deaths.

Statin drugs can lead to unpredictable chaos on the cellular level, interfering with proper cellular functions and breakdown, as well as preventing repair of damaged cells.

Chapter References

• 22: Schwartz G, Olsson A, et al. Effects of atorvastatin on early recurrent ischemic events in acute coronary syndromes. JAMA 2001 285:1711-1718.
• 23: Arron M, member of The ALLHAT Officers and Coordinators for the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group. Major outcomes in moderately hyper-cholesterolemic, hypertensive patients randomized to pravastatin vs. usual care: The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT-LLT). JAMA 2002 288:2998-3007.
• 24: Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group (writing committee: Collins R, Armitage J, Parish S, Sleight P, Peto R). MRC/BHF heart protection study of cholesterol lowering in 20,536 high-risk individuals: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Lancet 2002 360:7-22.
• 25: Medical Research Council/British Heart Foundation Heart Protection Study. Press release. Life-saver: World’s largest cholesterol-lowering trial reveals massive benefits for high-risk patients. Available at www.ctsu.ox.ac.uk/~hps/pr.shtml.
• 26: Ravnskov U. Statins as the new Aspirin. Conclusions from the heart protection study were premature. British Medical Journal 2002 324:789.
• 27: Shepherd J, Blauw G, Murphy M, et al. Pravastatin in elderly individuals at risk of vascular disease (PROSPER): a randomized controlled trial. Lancet 2002 Nov 23; 360(9346):1623-30.
• 28: Matsuzaki M, Kita T, Mabuchi H, Matsuzawa Y, Nakaya N, Oikawa S, Saito Y, Sasaki J, Shimamoto K, Itakura H; J-LIT Study Group. Japan Lipid Intervention Trial. Large scale cohort study of the relationship between serum cholesterol concentration and coronary events with low-dose simvastatin therapy in Japanese patients with hypercholesterolemia. Circ J. 2002 Dec; 66(12):1087-1095.
• 29: Newman CB, Palmer G, Silbershatz H, Szarek M. Safety of atorvastatin derived from analysis of 44 completed trials in 9,416 patients. Am J Cardiol. 2003 Sep 15; 92(6):670-676.
• 30: Hecht H, Harman S. Relation of aggressiveness of lipid-lowering treatment to changes in calcified plaque burden by electron beam tomography. Am J Cardiol. 2003 Aug 1; 92(3):334-336.
• 31: Sever P, Dahlof B, Poulter N, Wedel H, et al. Prevention of coronary and stroke events with atorvastatin in hypertensive patients who have average or lower-than-average cholesterol concentrations, in the Anglo- Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial–Lipid Lowering Arm (ASCOTLLA): a multicenter randomized controlled trial. Lancet 2003 Apr 5; 361(9364):1149-58.
• 32: Jenkins A. Might money spent on statins be better spent? BMJ. 2003 Oct 18; 327(7420):933.
• 33: Liu Y, Coresh J, Eustace J, et al. Association Between Cholesterol Level and Mortality in Dialysis Patients: Role of Inflammation and Malnutrition. JAMA 2004 291:451-459.
• 34: Moore T, Psaty B, Furberg C. Time to act on drug safety. JAMA May 20, 1998 279(19):1571-1573.

• Chapter 16: Conspiracy to Have Everyone Taking Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
• Chapter 17: The Cholesterol-Lowering Statin Drugs and the New Recommendations

Chapter Excerpts

Only 30-40% of people with blocked arteries and heart disease have elevated blood cholesterol levels, and posed the logical question: "How do you explain the other 60 to 70 %?"

The level at which LDL cholesterol is considered normal has continually been influenced by pharmaceutical companies, who pull the financial strings of research grants that keep medical schools and medical organizations running. The lower they can establish the level at which LDL cholesterol is considered normal, the more people automatically become victims of the dreaded disease of "high cholesterol."

The fact is eight of the nine panel members making the new LDL cholesterol recommendations were being paid by the statin-producing pharmaceutical companies. The panelists did not disclose their financial conflict of interest.

Chapter References

• 17: Rafai N, Ridker P. Inflammatory markers and coronary heart disease. Curr Opin Lipidol 2002 Aug; 13(4):383-389.
• 18: Albert C, et al. Prospective study of C-reactive protein, homocysteine, and plasma lipid levels as predictors of sudden cardiac death. Circulation 2002 Jun 4; 105 (22):2595-2599.
• 19: Bermudez E, Ridker P. C-reactive protein, statins, and the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Prev Cardiol 2002 Winter; 5(1):42-46.
• 20: Blake C, Ridker P. Inflammatory mechanisms in atherosclerosis: from laboratory evidence to clinical application. Ital Heart J 2001 Nov; 2(11):796-800.
• 21: Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Bairey Merz CN, Brewer HB, Clark LT, Hunninghake DB, Pasternak RC, Smith SC, Stone NJ; for the Coordinating Committee of the National Cholesterol Education Program. Implications of Recent Clinical Trials for the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines. Circulation 2004 110:227-239.