In this episode Dr. McNamara discusses the conspiracy to have everyone taking cholesterol-lowering drugs and new recommendations for statin drugs.
- 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.
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