Blog Archives

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Fat and cholesterol are good for you -see Zoe’s blog for details.

Graph from WHO data

WHO data on Fats (Female) ZH

Zoe Harcombe:

All you need to do is to look at the lines going down to the right and wonder how on earth we ever got away with telling people that cholesterol causes heart disease. High cholesterol is associated with lower heart disease and vice versa – for all the data available in the world. High cholesterol is not even associated with high heart disease, let alone does it cause it.

WHO Cholesterol data

Cholesterol & heart disease – there is a relationship, but it’s not what you think

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MHRA Drug Safety Update Summary
Statin use may be associated with a level of hyperglycaemia in some patients where formal diabetes care is appropriate. The risk appears to be mainly in patients already at increased risk of developing diabetes. However, the overall benefits of statins strongly outweigh any risks, including in those at risk of developing diabetes or those with pre-existing diabetes

The explanation for this is probably the fact that a 10% depletion in cell-membrane cholesterol will cause pancreatic beta cell to stop all insulin release

Xia F, Xie L, Mihic A, et al. Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis impairs insulin secretion and voltage-gated calcium channel function in pancreatic beta-cells. Endocrinology 2008; 149: 5136-45.

Statins: risk of hyperglycaemia and diabetes

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MHRA Drug Safety Update Summary

In August 2012 we published advice that simvastatin is now contraindicated with concomitant use of certain medicines, such as ciclosporin, danazol, and gemfibrozil. In addition, the recommendations for the maximum dose of simvastatin have changed when used with a number of other medicines, including amlodipine and diltiazem. These changes were driven primarily by concerns about an increased risk of myopathy and/or rhabdomyolysis at higher plasma concentrations of simvastatin, which may result from such drug interactions.

Following further consideration by the Pharmacovigilance Expert Advisory Group of the Commission on Human Medicines, this article summarises the evidence underlying the new advice that the maximum recommended dose for simvastatin in conjunction with amlodipine and diltiazem is now 20 mg/day. The prescribed doses of amlodipine and diltiazem need not be changed.

MHRA Drug Safety Update – Statin

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Myopathy is a known side effect of all statins, including simvastatin, and the risk increases with higher doses. However, its most serious form, rhabdomyolysis, is a very rare side effect. The risk of myopathy is greater in: elderly patients (>65 years); women; patients with renal impairment or hypothyroidism; patients who consume large quantities of alcohol; those with a history of previous muscle problems during treatment with statins or other lipid-lowering drugs; or those with family history of muscle disorders. Concomitant use of some medicines may also increase the risk of muscle damage.

Statins MHRA warning

UK GPs warned over muscle risk with Statin

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On Friday I shall be recording Sophie Rosa who will be soloist with with the Leeds Symphony Orchestra. Being an honorary Recording Engineer has its moments!

St. Chad’s Church, Headingley, Friday 16th November 2012 at 7.30 pm

Sophie Rosa

Sophie Rosa with Leeds Symphony Orchestra

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Duane Graveline MD MPH (Author) & Glyn Wainwright MSc (Introduction and Guest Chapter)

Try to imagine a drug possessing the ability to cause DNA mutations using the same mechanisms that have evolved for natural aging. When confronted with a patient experiencing weakness and unsteadiness, muscle aches and pains, memory loss and depression, the quite natural response from most doctors is, “You have to expect this kind of thing now; you are over 50”. Most doctors do not have a clue as to the truth. It is not natural aging that has depleted you so. This is premature aging – aging in months according to many statin victims – and this entire complex of symptoms from a drug so safe that many doctors feel it should be put in the drinking water. The class of drugs is called statins, simple reductase inhibitors capable not only of lowering cholesterol but also CoQ10 and dolichols as well, leading directly to mitochondrial damage and mutation. No, this is not impossible. It is happening today to thousands of us.

Sapcedoc

The Dark Side of Statins

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CholesterolCholesterol

Vitamin D3 Vitamin D3

Spot the difference Cholesterol + sunlight -> Vitamin D3

Visit Dr Stephanie Seneff’s blog essay for the full story

– Eat a low-fat diet,
– Avoid the damaging rays of the sun

These two tenets, taken together, are extremely bad medical advice, and that the consequences of our government’s success in selling this well-intended but misguided recommendation to the American public are devastating and long-lasting, particularly to our nation’s children.

Sunscreen and Low-fat Diet: A Recipe for Disaster

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Earlier this year I attended a the London WAPF conference in support of Dr Stephanie Seneff and we were fortunate enough to meet Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride. Once Dr Natasha C-M explains what happens to the food you eat and how it affects your health you are empowered to improve your health. She asks you to consider the community that lives within us digesting our food and protecting us from infection and harm.  Once you understand your symbiotic relationship with this microbial community you will respect it, nurture it and take much greater care of what you put in your mouth.

e.g. If food manufacturers treat food to extend its shelf-life (the spoilage bugs can’t survive on it) you have to consider what that does to your internal community of microbial friends when you eat it!

Put You Heart In Your Mouth!

‘Put your Heart in Your Mouth’ – Dr Campbell-McBride

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Why is it news that full dairy products and milk intended to provide the full nutritional requirements of any active growing mammal are really good for you?  Celebrate all meats, full fat dairy products, eggs, and fish as being exactly right nutritionally. I have been reading biochemistry papers since the 1960’s and have yet to find any evidence that these foods have ever caused disease.  On the other hand refined carbohydrates (sugar-damaged proteins aka AGE) are ultimately quite dangerous for our health.  Advanced glycaemic end-products accumulate and cause disease when we spend decades over-indulging our sweet tooth!

Excellent foods!

Cheese ‘could reduce diabetes risk’ – Daily Telegraph