Statins and human health

Statins are probably the most prescripted drug in the world. In western developed societies, 10-25% of the population over 45 years of age receive some form and dosage of this formulation. However, studies by various scientific groups have shown that the administration of statins to lower cholesterol simply counteracts the symptom, ie the increase in the body and not the cause of this increase. Also, the harmful effects on the human body from the use of these medicines are stressed.

A study in Atherosclerosis journal shows that the use of statins is associated with a 52% increased incidence and a greater extent of coronary artery calcium than those who do not receive similar treatment.

A second study published in another journal, Diabetes Care, reveals that people with type 2 diabetes who have developed atherosclerosis and are frequent users of statins have significantly elevated levels of coronary artery calcium compared to those who use the drug less. In addition, in a subgroup of participants who did not initially receive statins, the development of coronary artery and abdominal aortic calcifications increased significantly when statins began to be taken regularly.

These drugs have a multitude of potential side effects, which depend on the dose that is taken. In fact, since 2009, there are over 900 studies showing possible side effects from statin use that start from muscle problems to an increased risk of developing cancer.

One of the main mechanisms through which statins cause damage, is by neutralizing the most important coenzyme molecule Q10 (CoQ10) or ubiquinone. It is worth noting that Q10 helps to deliver electrical charges to the mitochondria, or to the cells’ power generating sites, so that they can produce energy, that is, to be kept alive. The heart contains the largest amount of mitochondria from each muscle in the body, so the administration of statins leading to Q10 allocation, not only does not protect against heart disease but can also be the cause of their manifestation.

In general, the major pathological events associated with statins are the following:

• Polyneuropathy (nerve damage to hands and feet)
• Muscular problems
• Rhabdomyolysis (degenerative muscular tissue disease)
• Anemia
• Acidification
• Sexual dysfunction
• Immunosuppression
• Cataract
• Pancreatic or liver dysfunction, and elevated liver enzymes
• Memory loss
• Hepatic damage

When do Statins help?

Patients benefiting from statins are actually very few. A small group of people, who have familial hypercholesterolemia, benefit from taking statin. This disease is a genetic abnormality that causes cholesterol levels above 350. However, even at these levels, the cause is only genetic in a minimal number of people.

The interpretation of increased cholesterol

Cholesterol is in fact an indicator of the likelihood of cardiovascular risk but not the cause. Studies have shown that elevated cholesterol, except in the case of familial hypercholesterolemia, is due to the presence of inflammation in the wall of the arteries. In the absence of inflammation in the body, there is no way for cholesterol to accumulate in the walls of the blood vessels and cause heart disease and strokes. Without inflammation, cholesterol will circulate freely throughout the body, as in nature. Inflammation is a defensive mechanism designed to address the cause of pathogenesis. But when the inflammation lasts for years, it is detrimental to cells and tissues.

When damage is caused to the wall of a vessel, then cholesterol attaches to it to overlap the damage, thereby creating an atherosclerotic plaque. This observation led Brown-Goldstein to the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1985. This means cholesterol is not the cause of artery closure but a second defense mechanism of the organism in the event of damage to our vessels.

Cholesterol is transferred to the blood in the form of large (good) and small (bad) molecules. Small molecules more easily penetrate and are placed on the wall of the vessels while the large ones are transported into the bloodstream without attaching to the walls. It should be noted that no drug affects the size of these molecules.

It is worth noting that Linus Pauling (who has received 2 Nobel Prizes in Biochemistry and Peace) and his associate Dr. Matthias Rath, described the damage to our vessels mainly due to lack of vitamin C and other nutrients. When there is not enough vitamin C, there are cracks in the inner surface of the vessels. At this point the body instructs the liver to produce extra cholesterol to repair, even superficially, the damage.

Functional Medicine through special examinations can help to maintain normal cholesterol values by not repressing this important structural organic compound but by discovering the true cause that causes it to increase. Thus, this can be done to restore true pathogenicity without the unnecessary use of statins and avoiding the catastrophic side-effects caused by their administration.

Restoration is based on the administration of appropriate Micronutrients and Macronutrients (vitamins, trace elements, photochemical anti-inflammants, etc.) and the nutrients that the body needs in order to limit and correct the cause and the harm caused and thus to maintain normal values cholesterol .

Dr. Nikoleta Koini, M.D.

Doctor of Functional, Preventive, Anti-ageing and Restorative Medicine.
Diplomate and Board Certified in Anti-aging, Preventive, Functional and Regenerative Medicine from A4M (American Academy in Antiaging Medicine).