2 Ways to Lower Your Child's Cholesterol Without Statins

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apparently these British researchers think that statin drugs are BENIGN. NOT SO!!
They gave me PeripheralNeuropathy - an incurable illnessthat leaves you semi
invalided because your balance is affected and the pain is constant. They often
cause muscular pain also. When I told my cardiologist I had a harsh pain in my
calf muscle, he immediately took me off the statin. It wasn't just the pain but
whatever caused the muscle pain in another organ in my body. If we really think that statins is the way to go to avoid placque in arteries why don't we offe
a small llavix pill to really thin ourblood ---- and perhaps throw in a baby aspirin
to help the blood become even thinner. If the FDA goes along with this the
pharmaceutical companies will be cheering loudly as they envision their profits
growing sky high. Can't someone of sense stop this crazy idea????
Apparently these British researchers think statins have only benign side effects.
Mine was and is PeripheralN europathy for which there is no cure and few treat
ments. And it is with you 24/7. Another common side effect is muscle pain. In
my case extreme pain in my calf. I wonder what really brought on the
muscle pain that caused my cardiologist to immediately remove my statin dose.
I am sure that the pharmaceutical companies celebrated upon hearing this news.
Now they can increase the profits of the world's best selling drug......

Charles R. Schaechter of IL 10:51PM August 15, 2010

Chris,
While crazy might be an overstatement, I do think you should read more carefully. Even the author notes that the study does not prove anything but provides a hypothesis:
"Brent Muhlestein, another co-author of the study....stressed that because the study was only observational, definitive links between vitamin D deficiency and heart disease could not be established."
Furthermore, there is no mention of controlling for variables such as genetic factors (Hypercholesterolemia), family history, and LDL and HDL cholesterol plasma concentrations in the press article. The observed results may be related to vitamin D status, but they also may be due to other unmentioned factors that may differ among the groups by chance. For example, exposure to sunlight effects vitamin D status but it may also be an indicator of outdoor activity and exercise habits, which in term effects cardiovascular disease risk; thus, one cannot simply look at a headline and conclude causation, especially when examining epidemiological and correlative data.
Lastly, your statement that "you can do no harm by maintaining vitamin D health" is ignorant, misleading, and dangerous. Hypervitaminosis D is a condition resulting from toxic levels of vitamin D in the body, largely resulting from overuse of vitamin D supplements. If vitamin D intake is not carefully monitored, severe symptoms can result, including:
-Dehydration
-Hypercalcemia
-Kidney damage
-Kidney stones
Next time, please refrain from posting medical advice, especially when it is unestablished and potentially dangerous. Research is a laborious process that addresses one question at a time, and the cited study is one step along this path. In summary, while vitamin D status may contribute to cardiovascular disease events, complex chronic diseases are rarely ever uni-factorial in etiology.
Regards,
A. Florvag

A. Florvag of MA 3:23PM June 30, 2010

In the end, when the dust settles and the history is written, heart disease will be proved overwhelmingly to have been caused by vitamin D deficiency.
Think I am crazy?
Than refute the Mormon Study which found that the mysterious onset of all heart disease symptoms commenced at 25 OH D levels below 34 ng/ml. And the disease process started immediately upon levels dipping below 34 ng/ml, 25 OH D, and not one nanogram less.
This is especially so for people with no previous heart disease history!
Links:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091116085038.htm
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jdLoOtqHWNrQove6GUnlGfCd5fBQ
Suppose most heart disease is merely a symptom of some higher malfunction?
Suppose cancer, diabetes, and many other early onset chronic diseases as well?
Suppose it was all linked to "vitamin" D deficiency?
Think of scurvy and its associated maladies.
The experts insist on serum vitamin D (25 OH) levels of at least 50 ng/ml, year round.
You can do no harm by maintaining vitamin D health. However there is one particular side effect you may not expect: You will feel and perform as if 25 years younger when levels are maintained at 50 ng/ml, 25 OH D.

Chris Menard of MA 11:08AM June 30, 2010