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Diet and nutrition

Heart and cholesterol — do vegetables work better than statins? Jaśkowski and Dąbrowska weigh in

Sources: 9 · Article: 9 625 characters

Jerzy Jaśkowski attributes muscle weakness, memory problems, and an increase in atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries to statins.

  • Ewa Dąbrowska describes a fruit-and-vegetable fast as a way to help improve insulin resistance, which is associated, among other things, with atherosclerosis and lipid disorders.
  • Andrzej Frydrychowski links the effects of statins to disrupted synthesis of coenzyme Q10 and squalene, while Thomas E. Levy warns against their long-term use and very low cholesterol levels because of the risk of cancer.

What the authors write

Ewa Dąbrowska

A fruit-and-vegetable fast is intended to help improve insulin resistance, which underlies, among other things, atherosclerosis and lipid disorders.

„Metabolic diseases Fasting helps reduce excess body fat and reverses fatty liver. As a result, cells become more sensitive to insulin. This is important because insulin resistance underlies many metabolic diseases: type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension, lipid disorders, and gout.”Choroby metabolicznePost wspomaga redukcję nadmiaru tkanki tłuszczowej i cofa stłuszczenie wątroby. W efekcie poprawia się wrażliwość komórek na insulinę, co jest kluczowe, ponieważ insulinooporność leży u podstaw wielu chorób metabolicznych: cukrzycy typu 2, miażdżycy, nadciśnienia, zaburzeń lipidowych czy dny moczanowej.
Andrzej Frydrychowski

Statins lower cholesterol by blocking the HMG-CoA pathway, which, according to Andrzej Frydrychowski, also disrupts the synthesis of coenzyme Q10 and squalene.

„First, statins lower cholesterol by blocking the HMG-CoA metabolic pathway. This disrupts the synthesis of coenzyme Q10 and squalene. Damage to Q10 synthesis has serious consequences because Q10 affects the energy production of heart cells.”Po pierwsze, statyny obniżają poziom cholesterolu, blokując szlak metaboliczny HMG CoA. W wyniku tego dochodzi do zaburzeń syntezy koenzymu Q10 i skwalenu. Uszkodzenie syntezy Q10 daje poważne konsekwencje, ponieważ wpływa on na energetykę komórek serca.
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Jerzy Jaśkowski links statins to reduced production of coenzyme Q10, as well as muscle weakness and memory problems.

„As I mentioned, by reducing the cholesterol pathway, statins reduce the production of CoQ10, a natural coenzyme that is absolutely essential for our bodies. Statistics show that surgical treatment for a “heart attack” results in postoperative mortality of up to 47% within a year.”Statyny, obniżając szlak cholesterolowy, jak wspomniałem, zmniejszają produkcję Co Q 10, absolutnie niezbędnego dla naszego organizmu naturalnego koenzymu. Jak wykazują statystyki, leczenie operacyjne „zawału” powoduje śmiertelność pooperacyjną w okresie roku do 47%.
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Jerzy Jaśkowski attributes an increase in atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries and aorta to statins, as well as a higher risk of cardiovascular complications in people with diabetes.

„Further studies have shown that the use of statins increases the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries and increases atherosclerosis of the aorta. Other studies show that taking statins not only increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but also accelerates the onset of cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.”Kolejne badania udowodniły, że stosowanie statyn powoduje wzrost tworzenia się blaszek miażdżycowych w tętnicach wieńcowych i wzrost miażdżycy aorty. Inne badania dowodzą, że przyjmowanie statyn nie tylko powoduje wzrost ryzyka wystąpienia cukrzycy typu 2, ale także przyspieszenie występowania powikłań sercowo-naczyniowych związanych z cukrzycą.
Jerzy Jaśkowski

Jerzy Jaśkowski presents cholesterol as a substance the body needs and opposes lowering its level with statins.

„Cholesterol is a chemical compound. It is essential for building the cell structure. From a biochemical point of view, coenzyme Q—the compound responsible in our bodies for detoxification, or the removal of all toxins—is produced as an end product from the same precursor substances.”Cholesterol to jeden związek chemiczny. Jest on niezbędny do budowy szkieletu komórki. Z biochemicznego punktu widzenia z tych samych substancji pierwotnych jako produkt końcowy powstaje koenzym Q, czyli związek odpowiedzialny w naszym organizmie za detoksykację, czyli usuwanie wszelkich toksyn.
Thomas E. Levy

Thomas E. Levy warns against long-term use of statins and very low cholesterol levels, linking them to an increased risk of cancer.

„The lower your cholesterol levels go without addressing the underlying presence of toxins, the greater your chances of cancer. Period. Furthermore, a recent 2013 study has now shown that long-term statin use is associated with increased risks of two different types of breast cancer, entirely consistent with the long-established link between cancer and low cholesterol.”The lower your cholesterol levels go without addressing the underlying toxin presence, the greater your chances of cancer. Period. Furthermore, in a recent 2013 study, it has now been shown that long-term statin use is associated with increased risks of two different types of breast cancer, completely consistent with the long-established link between cancer and low cholesterol.

Research from PubMed · Europe PMC

We selected 3 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.

Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 21.

A diet combining plant sterols, soy protein, fiber, and almonds lowered LDL more than the control diet, but this study did not directly compare it with a statin.

Aim of the study: Reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) result from diets containing almonds, or diets that are either low in saturated fat or high in viscous fibers, soy proteins, or plant sterols. We therefore combined all of these interventions in a single diet (the portfolio diet) to determine whether cholesterol reductions could be achieved that were similar in magnitude to those reported in recent statin trials that reduced cardiovascular events.

Results: The reductions in LDL-C and the LDL:HDL-C ratio were both significantly greater on the portfolio diet than on the control diet (P<.001 and P<.001, respectively). Mean weight loss was similar on the test and control diets (1.0 kg and 0.9 kg, respectively). No differences were seen between the diets in blood pressure, HDL-C, serum triglycerides, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], or homocysteine concentrations. Combining a number of foods and food components in a single dietary portfolio may lower LDL-C similarly to statins and thus increase the potential effectiveness of dietary therapy.

Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studystudy with random allocation to groups (RCT)

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

After one year on the portfolio diet, LDL fell by about 13% on average, and for some participants the reduction was comparable to the results of their earlier statin trial.

Aim of the study: Cholesterol-lowering foods may be more effective when consumed in combinations rather than as single foods. Our aims were to determine the effectiveness of consuming a combination of cholesterol-lowering foods (the dietary portfolio) under real-world conditions and to compare these results with published data from the same participants, who had undergone 4-week metabolic studies comparing the same dietary portfolio with the effects of a statin.

Results: At 3 mo and 1 y, mean (+/-SE) LDL-cholesterol reductions appeared stable at 14.0 +/- 1.6% (P < 0.001) and 12.8 +/- 2.0% (P < 0.001), respectively (n = 66). These reductions were smaller than those observed after the 1-mo metabolic diet and statin trials. Nevertheless, 31.8% of the participants (n = 21 of 66) had LDL-cholesterol reductions of >20% at 1 y (x +/- SE: -29.7 +/- 1.6%). The LDL-cholesterol reductions in this group were not significantly different from those seen after their respective metabolically controlled portfolio or statin treatments. A correlation was found between total dietary adherence and LDL-cholesterol change (r = -0.42, P < 0.001). Only 2 of the 26 participants with <55% compliance achieved LDL-cholesterol reductions >20% at 1 y.

Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studyclinical study in people
Participants66

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

After 8 weeks on a plant-based diet, participants’ total cholesterol decreased.

Aim of the study: Plant-based vegan diets (PBVDs) improve cardiometabolic risk markers, so some cardiologists recommend them as an adjunct treatment. To complete a service evaluation, practical measures of dietary adherence are needed, and patients’ perceptions must be considered.

Results: Twenty patients completed the dietary assessment. After 8 weeks, 55% (n = 11) were classified as fully adherent to the PBVD. The mean PBVD-S score increased from 20.3 ± 8.7 at baseline to 38.9 ± 5.8 at Week 8. Mean total cholesterol (TC), body mass index (BMI), body mass, and waist circumference decreased significantly (p < 0.001) after 8 weeks on the PBVD. The PBVD-S met the feasibility criteria for alignment with diet education and assessment of adherence. The PBVD was rated as either “moderately” or “extremely” acceptable by 80% of patients. The PBVD-S is a feasible option for assessing adherence and diet quality for a PBVD in a cardiology outpatient setting.

Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?no — the authors say so
Did a manufacturer help with the study?NO
Type of studyother
Participants20

“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.

Perspectives and opinion materials

The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Only six died, compared with the statistical expectation that 62 would have died with conventional care. He stated, “From the strictly medical viewpoint I believe all patients taking niacin would survive longer and enjoy life much more.” His prediction came true when Canner recently evaluated the National Coronary Drug Study. But Boyle’s data spoke for itself. Continuous use of niacin will decrease mortality and prolong life. Niacin Combined With Other Drugs Which Lower Cholesterol Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited disease in which plasma cholesterol levels are very high.”Only six died, against a statistical expectation that 62 would have died with conventional care. He stated, "From the strictly medical viewpoint I believe all patients taking niacin would survive longer and enjoy life much more." His prediction came true when the National Coronary Drug Study was evaluated by Canner recently. But Boyle's data spoke for itself. Continuous use of niacin will decrease mortality and prolong life. Niacin Combined With Other Drugs Which Lower Cholesterol Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited disease in which plasma cholesterol levels are very high.

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