~~OK, I realize that to most of you this may seem counter-intuitive. Your brain may have actually had a "disconnect" in trying to interpret that headline. But, the truth is that this may actually be the case. At least that is what the most recent research study is indicating.
Let's once again retrace the path that brought us to this juncture. So where did the whole statin process begin? In 2008 the JUPITER trial was purported to be the conclusive evidence that statins could prevent heart disease. When we dig a little deeper into this study it becomes apparent that the results of this study did not confirm a reduction or resolution of heart disease. In fact the difference between the placebo group and the test subjects using statins was a mere 1.2%. This is a statistically negligible difference. This is also why the number of deaths from heart attacks has not changed since 1999. This in spite of the widespread use of statin drugs.
Now let's look at how statins work and what else they cause. Statins inhibit the production of an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. By inhibiting this enzyme, the statin drug stops the production of cholesterol. This cholesterol reduction is "supposed" to save us all from dying from heart attacks. At least this is what you will be told by your medical practitioner. However, as I noted above, each year since 1999 approximately 660,000 Americans have died from heart attacks according to the CDC. This number has been the same for 16 years now in spite of the extensive prescription of statins.
The next question that we need to answer is; "What other symptoms develop as a result of using statins?" Well here is a list of a few that some of you may have experienced: fatigue, erectile dysfunction, memory loss, cognitive defects, ALS-like symptoms, aggression, irritability, polyneuropathy, peripheral neuropathy, muscle cramps, and muscle weakness.
Now let's fast forward to 2015. The most current study on the subject was published in March. The title of the study is "Statins Stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms".
Whaaaaat, Statins Stimulate Atherosclerosis???? You heard it right!!! According to these researchers; "In contrast to the current belief that cholesterol reduction with statins decreases atherosclerosis, we present a perspective that statins may be causative in coronary artery calcification and can function as mitochondrial toxins that impair muscle function in the heart and blood vessels through the depletion of coenzyme Q 10 and 'heme A', and thereby ATP generation."
O.K., let's break that all down. First of all let's discuss "mitochondrial toxins". The mitochondria are the energy generating structures in every cell in your body. The energy that is generated is in the form of a substance called ATP. Coenzyme Q10 is a substance that is required to generate the ATP. So full circle now, if the statin drugs deplete Co-Q10, and Co-Q10 is required to generate energy, then the statin is ultimately stopping the production of energy by every cell in your body. The lack of energy production by every cell then causes "impaired muscle function". This is why one of the side effects of statins is not only muscle aches, but also muscle weakness and atrophy, or wasting of the muscles.
Now comes your big Aha moment with everything that we have just discussed. Guess what your heart is? A MUSCLE!!! If statins cause a lack of energy production in every cell in the body, and ultimately not only muscle pain but also muscle weakness, and your heart is a muscle. Then don't you think that if we just add in a smidgen of common sense, (although that seems to be a rare commodity today) that we couldn't come to the conclusion that we are actually damaging our heart by taking statin drugs??? I can see that, and I hope that you can too!
I would like to conclude with the closing statements that the researchers in this study left us with; "Thus, the epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs. We propose that current statin treatment guidelines be critically reevaluated."
I think that says it all!
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