Stains increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration by 19%

This study was published in Ophthalmology 2009 Dec;116(12):2381-5

Study title and authors:
Statin use and the incidence of advanced age-related macular degeneration in the Complications of Age-related Macular Degeneration Prevention Trial.

Maguire MG, Ying GS, McCannel CA, Liu C, Dai Y
Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-3309, USA. maguirem@mail.med.upenn.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19850347

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of statin use on the incidence of advanced age-related macular degeneration among patients with large drusen. The study included 744 patients, aged 50 years or more, who were followed for at least five years. Eligibility criteria for the clinical trial required that the participants have more than ten large drusen and visual acuity no better than 20/40 in each eye.

(Drusen are yellow deposits under the retina. While drusen likely do not cause age-related macular degeneration, their presence increases a person’s risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. In the expression, 20/40 vision, the 20 is the distance in feet between the subject and the chart. The 40 means that the subject can read the chart (from 20 feet away) as well as a normal person could read the same chart from 40 feet away).

The study found that patients taking statins had a 19% increased risk of developing advanced age-related macular degeneration compared to patients not taking statins.



Food Reward Friday

This week's lucky "winner"... the Reese's PBC Burger!!

Image credit: The Works

Read more »

Statins may cause a huge rise in breast cancer risk

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine 1996 Oct 3;335(14):1001-9

Study title and authors:
The effect of pravastatin on coronary events after myocardial infarction in patients with average cholesterol levels. Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial investigators.

Sacks FM, Pfeffer MA, Moye LA, Rouleau JL, Rutherford JD, Cole TG, Brown L, Warnica JW, Arnold JM, Wun CC, Davis BR, Braunwald E.
Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8801446

This study, named the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial (CARE) investigated the effects of statins in patients with coronary disease, who have average (below 240 mg/dL or 6.2 mmol/L) cholesterol levels. The study was a double-blind, placebo controlled trial lasting five years and included 4,159 patients who received either 40 mg of pravastatin per day or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Those taking statins had a 19% reduced risk of death from coronary heart disease compared to placebo.
(b) Those taking statins had a 45% increased risk of death due to cardiovascular but noncoronary causes compared to placebo.
(c) Those taking statins had a 100% increased risk of violent death compared to placebo.
(d) Those taking statins had a 9% increased risk of death from cancer compared to placebo.
(e) Those taking statins had a 7% increased risk of any cancer compared to placebo.
(f) Women taking statins had a 1100% increased risk of breast cancer compared to placebo.

Dr Uffe Ravnskov, an expert in cholesterol, statins and heart disease, commented in his book 'The Cholesterol Myths': "Considering the large number of participants, this result doesn't seem particularly impressive... In fact, the reduction in coronary heart disease deaths was offset by the fact that in the treatment (statin) group a few more had died from other causes".



Do Processed and Red Meat Cause Cancer?

Today, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer published a statement in The Lancet detailing its position on the carcinogenicity of processed and red meat (1).  The statement, resulting from a meeting of 22 scientists from 10 countries, concluded that processed meat is a group 1 carcinogen, meaning that it is "definitely carcinogenic to humans".  They also judged that red meat is a group 2A carcinogen, meaning that it probably causes cancer but the evidence isn't as strong.  They're mostly referring to the links between processed and red meat and digestive tract cancer, particularly cancers of the colon and rectum.

These statements were met with a media frenzy, and the expected furor from the meat industry.  The most surprising thing, for me, is that anyone would be surprised by the IARC's statement.

Read more »

Seasonal affective disorder significantly associated with lower cholesterol levels

This study was published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience 2007 Jun;257(4):197-202

 

Study title and author:

Serum lipid levels in seasonal affective disorder

Pjrek E, Winkler D, Abramson DW, Konstantinidis A, Stastny J, Willeit M, Praschak-Rieder N, Kasper S.

Dept. of General Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. edda.pjrek@meduniwien.ac.at

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17149538/

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of cholesterol levels with seasonal affective disorder. The study included 39 seasonal affective disorder patients who were compared with 40 controls.

The study found that seasonal affective disorder patients had significantly lower total cholesterol levels (12% lower) than control subjects.

Pjrek concluded: "The results of this study support the idea that low cholesterol levels may be of pathogenetic importance in seasonal affective disorder."

Review of Low Cholesterol Leads To An Early Death

Lower cholesterol levels associated with an 89% increased risk of coronary heart disease death rates in women

This study was published in PLoS One 2014 Dec 5;9(12):e114283

Study title and authors:
Health factors and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and coronary heart disease mortality: findings from the MONICA and HAPIEE studies in Lithuania.

Tamosiunas A, Luksiene D, Baceviciene M, Bernotiene G, Radisauskas R, Malinauskiene V, Kranciukaite-Butylkiniene D, Virviciute D, Peasey A, Bobak M.
Institute of Cardiology, Academy of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25479610

This study investigated the association of various health factors with all-cause and cardiovascular death rates. Data was collected over 25 years on 9,209 men and women aged 45-64.

Regarding cholesterol levels the study found:
(a) Men with cholesterol levels less than 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL) had a 29% higher death rate than men with cholesterol levels more than 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL).
(b) Women with cholesterol levels less than 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL) had a 4% higher death rate than women with cholesterol levels more than 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL).
(c) Men with cholesterol levels less than 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL) had a 15% higher cardiovascular disease death rate than men with cholesterol levels more than 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL).
(d) Women with cholesterol levels less than 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL) had a 52% higher cardiovascular disease death rate than women with cholesterol levels more than 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL).
(e) Men with cholesterol levels less than 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL) had a 19% higher coronary heart disease death rate than men with cholesterol levels more than 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL).
(f) Women with cholesterol levels less than 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL) had a 89% higher coronary heart disease death rate than women with cholesterol levels more than 6.2 mmol/L (240 mg/dL).

Tamosiunas concluded: "We found that total cholesterol concentrations of less than 5.2 mmol/L (201 mg/dL) were associated with increased higher risk of mortality."

Why Do Girls and Boys Reach Puberty Younger Than They Used To?

Girls, and probably boys, are reaching puberty years younger than they did in our great-grandparents' generation.  Why?  There's no shortage of explanations, but the primary reason is probably quite simple.

Read more »

Low cholesterol significantly associated with increased depression

This study was published in Psychiatry Research 2001 Aug 5;103(1):93-6

 

Study title and author:

Biochemical markers of anxiety and depression.

Rafter D.

Hartstown Medical Centre, 2 Hazelwood Avenue, Hartstown, Clonsilla, 15, Dublin, Ireland.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11472794

The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression. A score of 0-7 is considered to be normal. Scores of 20 or higher indicate moderate, severe, or very severe depression.

This study investigated the association between cholesterol levels and depression. The research was carried out on a normal population in a primary care setting using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

The study found that those with low cholesterol scored significantly higher on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, thereby low cholesterol was significantly associated with higher rates of depression. 

How to Prevent Cancer by Boosting Your Immune System

Healthy life. Image: www.renovemedspa.org

Cancer is a deadly disease, but with a healthy lifestyle, you can prevent it. Get unique tips from the article below, so you can get enlightenment.

Cancer usually occurs from genetic, environmental, food, and lifestyle factors. The bodies of most people will fight off cancer cells before they have a chance to multiply and grow; however, sometimes the body is unable to eliminate toxic cells.

The best way to fight off cancer cells before they have a chance to attack the body is to make sure your immune system is healthy. Effective ways to prevent and fight off cancer cell are as follows:

Step 1
Avoid sugar and sugar substitutes to prevent cancer. Cancer feeds off sugar and the harmful chemicals in sugar substitutes.

Step 2
Substitute unsweetened soy milk for regular milk. Most milk has added hormones that are toxic to the body.


Step 3
Drink green tea to boost your immune system. Green tea contains anti-oxidants that help prevent cancer.


Step 4
Eat less meat and more fish. Most meat in the United States contain harmful hormones, antibiotics, and parasites, which are harmful to everyone, especially people who already have cancer.

Step 5
Eat more fresh vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and whole grains to prevent cancer.

Step 6
Take supplements that boost the immune system. Take anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to help your immune system. Vitamin E helps the body eliminate bad cells.

Step 7
Exercise every day. Even a daily twenty minute walk will help improve your immune system and prevent cancer.

By CM Herold (ehow.com)

Low levels of LDL cholesterol associated with an increased risk of cancer

This study was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2012;59(13s1):E1622-E1622.

Study title and authors:
THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LOWER LEVELS OF LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL AND CANCER PREDATES THE DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER BY 18 YEARS                                                                                             

Paul Michael Lavigne; Haseeb Jafri; Richard Karas

This study can be accessed at: http://content.onlinejacc.org/article.aspx?articleid=1205620

This study investigated the association of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels with the incidence of cancer. The study included 201 cases of cancer and 402 matched controls. Their LDL cholesterol levels were measured at four time points throughout an average of 18.7 years prior to diagnosis of cancer.

 

The study found that LDL cholesterol levels were lower in cancer subjects than matched controls at each point of assessment throughout the 18.7 years prior to diagnosis.

Will You Fill Out This Paleo Diet Survey?

This week, I received an e-mail from a graduate student at Humboldt State University named May Patiño.  She asked me to share her online research survey targeted to Paleo dieters.  Here are the goals of her research, in her words:

The main objective of my study is exploring how the Paleo diet is being implemented in practice.  I would like to assess the health outcomes of these practices, as well evaluate how closely they conform to, or deviate from ways this diet is being described in theoretical literature, and implemented in controlled diet trials. I also want to be able to use the data collected to help explain what is driving the popularity of the ancestral health movement. Ultimately, I would like this information to be used to better inform protocols for controlled diet trails.

The survey took me about 40 minutes to complete.  You're welcome to participate whether or not you're on the Paleo diet.  Please consider taking the survey, for the love of science!

Research Survey: The Paleo Diet in the US

That Time I Ate Most of a Large Pizza in One Sitting

Two weeks ago, I had a brush with Extreme Eating.  My experience illustrates some important principles of how the brain regulates appetite and body fatness-- and how it reacts to calorie-dense, highly rewarding foods.


Read more »

High LDL cholesterol levels associated with a reduced risk of diabetes

This study was published in Diabetologia 2015 Sep 26

Study title and authors:
Low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and risk of incident diabetes: epidemiological and genetic insights from the Framingham Heart Study.

Andersson C, Lyass A, Larson MG, Robins SJ, Vasan RS
Framingham Heart Study, 73 Mt Wayte Avenue, Suite 2, Framingham, MA, 01702-5827, USA. ca@heart.dk.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26409460

One of the aims of this study was to assess the association of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels with diabetes risk. The study included 6,011 individuals, (average age 50 years), who were not treated with cholesterol lowering or antihypertensive medications and who were free from cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Diabetes was assessed at the next examination (average 4.5 years later).

The study found that each standard deviation increase in LDL levels was associated with a 19% reduced risk of diabetes. 

Andersson concluded: "These observations may contribute to our understanding of why lipid-lowering treatment may cause diabetes in some individuals."