Comments on: Truth versus hype in the Jupiter study

By: Brian Whistler

Brian Whistler — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:32:16 +0000

I think it is outrageous that doctors would come away from this study thinking that people with LDL cholesterol of 130mg with no associated risk factors should be put on Statin drug at all, especially a statin as powerful as Crestor. I don’t remember even reading in the ABC news article that these people had a high C. reactive protein. That seems to have been conveniently left out. Two of my family members are on statins, both are suffering from depression. I’ve often wondered particularly about my father’s depression, as it has increased markedly over the years since he’s been on Lipitor. I definitely see behavioral changes that really worry. The problem is that older people you can always attribute behavioral changes, memory loss and confusion to aging, so it’s very difficult to determine when a statin might actually be contributing to diminished mental function. Thanks for the article, I will pass it on to others. It is important that there is a dialogue with regards to the use of these powerful drugs which in many cases yield little benefits and pose a very real dangers in terms of side effects.

By: Las estatinas siguen sin ser la respuesta | Todo Gays

Las estatinas siguen sin ser la respuesta | Todo Gays — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:34:52 +0000

[...] tal al realizar…perdón, manipular la estadística (una pormenorizada crítica al estudio aquí). También se obvió en los medios por completo que Crestor, por otro lado un medicamento bastante [...]

By: Ron Kuper

Ron Kuper — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:43:46 +0000

Hello,

Great analysis, reading your blog is a true bliss for me. Thank you doctor!

The only rant I have is a bit off-topic and has to do with the quoted 1300$ yearly in the last paragraph.
Calculating the yearly cost of just the basic supplements that are recommended (Fish/Krill Oil, Good Multi, coQ10, Magnesium, Potassium) the sums turns back much higher… :/

Here in Israel statins are pretty much subsidized so its always a hard sell for me to switch people off prescription (&subsidized) drugs into a healthy diet with worthwhile (&costly) supplements.

If only staying healthy was more affordable somehow…

By: Julie Lange

Julie Lange — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:08:46 +0000

Great post!

This information came in very handy when I was researching the negative impact that statins have on glial progenitor cells in the brain.

Doctors like you are truly a blessing by providing straight forward and unbiased information to the public.

Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

- Julie

Glad you enjoyed the post.

By: "1st timer"

"1st timer" — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 14:35:08 +0000

Hi Dr. E,
My latest blood test showed elevated CRP, cholesterol and tri. Gloogling about CRP on the Internet I came across your blog. And I’m so happy that I did! You clarified all I needed to know! But before I read your blog I have already purchased “Country Life Ultra Concentrated Omega 3-6-9 ” with the following ingredients:

“Vitamin E (as mixed tocopherols) 20 International Unit 67%
Fish Oil Concentrate (from anchovy, mackerel, sardine) 800 Milligrams *
Borage Seed Oil 800 Milligrams *
Flax Oil (seed) 800 Milligrams *
alpha -Linolenic Acid (from flax seed oil) 424 Milligrams *
Linoleic Acid (from borage & flax seed oil) 416 Milligrams *
Oleic Acid (from borage & flax seed oil) 362 Milligrams *
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)(from fish oil concentrate – anchovy, mackerel, sardine) 240 Milligrams *
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)(from fish oil concentrate – anchovy, mackerel, sardine) 160 Milligrams *
Gamma -Linoleic Acid (GLA)(from borage seed oil) 152 Milligrams”

Having read your opinion about GLA, do you think I should avoid this formula all togother and stick to just omega 3 EFA and DHA? I’ll also purchase NKO and curcumin as you suggested because I believe it will help me. I’m sticking to a low carb lifestyle, avoiding cow dairy but I’m occasionally eating goat cheese. I need your input!!!
Thank you so very much for doing so much good to all of us with such great research, info.
and knowledge.
1st timer

If you are truly following a low-carb lifestyle, I would avoid borage oil and other oils with a high content of GLA. Lower insulin levels seems to allow these to convert to arachidonic acid more easily. I have had many patients who were taking GLA (from whatever source) for back and/or joint pain. When they switched to a low-carb diet, their pain got a little worse. When I had them stop the GLA, the pain went away. So, I always have people on low-carb diets avoid GLA.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:47:43 +0000

Great read Dr. Eades!
Looking back at the exclusion criteria:
1) Post-menopausal hormone-replacement therapy
2) Long-term oral glucocorticoids
3) History of alcohol or drug abuse
4) DM
5) Cancer within 5 years
6) Uncontrolled hypothyroidism

Why exactly were these specific patients excluded from the study?

I don’t know the precise reasons these criteria were excluded, but most studies have exclusion criteria to make both arms of the study as equal as possible while limiting confounding variables.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:46:00 +0000

The JUPITER data have been further tortured! That’s my recommendation for the title of your forthcoming blog post about the following new information that is now being presented about JUPITER. You should come up with a list of ailments that statins prevent … in the same vein as that list of ills of global warming. By the way you’ve got me looking a little more critically about the presumed consensus there … and I’m starting to reformulate my opinion. Thanks for opening my eyes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/health/research/30heart.html?hp

As long as there are big, big bucks in statins, the data will continue to be tortured. I haven’t read the paper on statins and clotting yet, but when I do, I’ll let everyone know my opinion. It may be that the drugs work for clot prevention, but at what expense? And do they work better than the old tried and true methods? Who knows?

By: Olga

Olga — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:08:37 +0000

Hi Dr. Eades:

Have you checked out Stephan’s post on his blog “whole health source?”
It’s a very interesting review of a recent Dutch study on the effects of Vitamin K2 on heart disease. Here’s the link:

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/

Interesting. Thanks for the link.

By: nonegiven

nonegiven — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:13:08 +0000

Ah, maybe so. I don�t even know how that got set up. Maybe one of my former tech gurus set it up, because I certainly didn�t. Not that there is a problem with it, I just don�t even know how it works. Do you get it that way?

I’m subscribed to both posts and comments with Bloglines. Most blogs don’t have a way to subscribe to comments without subscribing to each post’s comments individually. I sure hope you keep it.

I’ll keep it. I don’t have a clue as to how to get rid of it even if I wanted to.

By: nonegiven

nonegiven — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:48:15 +0000

I am clueless as to what�s going on here. I don�t have a weekly newsletter, so I don�t know what you�re actually getting.

Possibly he is calling this a newsletter, it seems to be the blog posts delivered by email instead of a blog reader:

Subscribe via Email
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Ah, maybe so. I don’t even know how that got set up. Maybe one of my former tech gurus set it up, because I certainly didn’t. Not that there is a problem with it, I just don’t even know how it works. Do you get it that way? If so, were the apostrophes screwed up? Maybe I had better subscribe myself so I can see what comes.