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Comments
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Mike
August 2, 2011 at 11:51 amGood list – except for #8. There’s NO evidence to support the claim that elevated total cholesterol is a health risk (in fact, just the opposite is true: high total cholesterol is associated with lower mortality. Despite what the writer says, just because Pfizer sells a lot of Lipitor, doesn’t mean high cholesterol is a health risk.
Harold DeMonaco
August 3, 2011 at 8:50 amI should point out up front that I am not a fan of the pharmaceutical industry and have no great love for the marketing campaigns conducted by any members.
The relationship between cholesterol (both LDL and HDL) and cardiovascular risk is complicated. As a result, generalizations in either direction are fraught with error. A look at the Framingham 10 Year Cardiac Risk Calculator (based on over 50 years of data) suggests cholesterol is one important factor along with gender, age, blood pressure and smoking. The calculator has been validated in a large study. (JAMA. 2001 Jul 11;286(2):180-7)
While lowering of cholesterol, especially in people who have suffered a heart attack (secondary prevention) has been shown to reduce mortality. The effect size may not be as large for people who have not. Suggesting that there is NO evidence is a bit of a stretch.
There are a couple of studies that suggest that too low a cholesterol level may be harmful. An Italian study and one conducted in Japan suggested that very low total and LDL cholesterol levels may be harmful. I am not aware of any published literature suggesting that elevated cholesterol levels per se are beneficial.
The pharmaceutical industry has produced many wonderful treatments, saving countless lives and improving the qulaity of life for many. In doing so should be applauded. It has also used advertising and marketing practices that would make PT Barnum blush. So, while I share your distaste for the latter, I also recognize the former.
Italian Study:J Am Geriatr Soc. 2003 Jul;51(7):991-6.
Japanese Study:Arch Intern Med 2011; 171: 1121–1123
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