The most popular statins increase the risk of Parkinson’s Disease by 58% according to new study.

These are the lipophilic statins, meaning that they dissolve in fats, which include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pitavastatin (Livalo), simvastatin (Zocor).

People taking both a statin and a nonstatin to lower cholesterol levels had a 95% increased risk of Parkinson’s compared to people taking neither according to a new study.

Nonstatin cholesterol-lowering drugs included fenofibrate (Trilipix, Tricor, Triglide, Antara, Lipofen, Fibricor, Lofibra, and Fenoglide), ezetimibe (Zetia), and niacin.

This study found that the most popular statins increase the risk of Parkinson’s Disease by 58%.

These are the lipophilic statins, meaning that they dissolve in fats, which include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pitavastatin (Livalo), simvastatin (Zocor).

The one-fourth of people consuming the most olive oil (6 teaspoons per day or more, 29 grams or more) were 26% less likely to die during an average follow-up of 13.4 years compared to non-consumers according to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain) study which followed 40,622 people aged 29–69 years who were recruited from 5 Spanish regions in 1992–1996.

The one-fourth of people consuming the most olive oil (6 teaspoons per day or more, 29 grams or more) were 44% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease (CVD, heart attack or stroke) during an average follow-up of 13.4 years compared to non-consumers according to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain) study which followed 40,622 people aged 29–69 years who were recruited from 5 Spanish regions in 1992–1996.

Each additional two teaspoons (10 grams) of olive oil intake per day was associated with a 7% lower risk of dying during an average follow-up of 13.4 years according to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain) study which followed 40,622 people aged 29–69 years who were recruited from 5 Spanish regions in 1992–1996.

Each additional two teaspoons (10 grams) of olive oil intake per day was associated with a 13% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD, heart attack or stroke) during an average follow-up of 13.4 years according to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-Spain) study which followed 40,622 people aged 29–69 years who were recruited from 5 Spanish regions in 1992–1996.

Among people who had never smoked, people who drank 3.1 to 5 cups of coffee per day had a 42% lower risk of suicide over some number of years compared to people who were not coffee drinkers according to an analysis of data from 74,890 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, 93,054 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II, and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

People who consumed more than 5 cups of coffee per day had a 46% lower risk of suicide compared to non-drinkers.

Among people who had never smoked, people who drank 3.1 to 5 cups of coffee per day had a 35% lower risk of dying from diabetes over some number of years compared to people who were not coffee drinkers according to an analysis of data from 74,890 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, 93,054 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II, and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

People who consumed 1.1 to 3.0 cups of coffee per day had a 41% lower risk of dying from diabetes compared to non-drinkers.

People who consumed more than 5 cups of coffee per day had a 43% lower risk of dying from diabetes compared to non-drinkers.

Among people who had never smoked, people who drank 3.1 to 5 cups of coffee per day had a 31% lower risk of dying from a neurological disease (Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s) over some number of years compared to people who were not coffee drinkers according to an analysis of data from 74,890 women in the Nurses’ Health Study, 93,054 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II, and 40,557 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

People who consumed more than 5 cups of coffee per day had a 40% lower risk of dying from a neurological disease (Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s) compared to non-drinkers.

Statin use is associated with a 1% to 12% increased risk of Alzheimer’s according to an analysis of data on 30,343,035 persons aged 40 to 65 years between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2012 as noted in an article on Medscape (Melville, 2016).

Reference

Melville NA. Statin Use Linked to Increased Parkinson’s Risk. American Neurological Association (ANA) 2016 Annual Meeting, Presented October 16, 2016; Abstract S137: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/870996.

The article on Medscape notes:

“We identified 20,000 Parkinson’s disease patients and looked at whether using statins was associated with a higher or lower risk, and we found people using statins have a higher risk of the disease, so this is the opposite of what has been hypothesized,” senior author Xuemei Huang, MD, PhD, vice chair for research at Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, told Medscape Medical News.

The same is true for Alzheimer’s — it’s the opposite of what has been hypothesized.

(The same research group found that statin use was found to be associated with a 58% increased risk of Parkinson’s.)

Each 100 mg intake of cholesterol per day was associated with a 10% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, although this difference was not quite statistically significant, but almost. (Close enough for me.)

Each 0.5 eggs eaten per day was associated with a 11% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, although this difference was not quite statistically significant, but almost. (Close enough for me.)

Half an egg contains very roughly 100 mg of cholesterol.

Increasing dietary magnesium intake by 100 mg per day is associated with a 10% reduction in the risk of death during a 4-30 year follow-up according to an analysis of 40 studies totaling more than one million people.

Increasing dietary magnesium intake by 100 mg per day is associated with a 22% reduction in the risk of congestive heart failure according to an analysis of 40 studies totaling more than one million people.

Increasing dietary magnesium intake by 100 mg per day is associated with a 7% reduction in the risk of stroke according to an analysis of 40 studies totaling more than one million people.

Increasing dietary magnesium intake by 100 mg per day is associated with a 19% reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes according to an analysis of 40 studies totaling more than one million people.

Men and women who replaced 3% of their animal protein intake (from red meat, fish, chicken, dairy, eggs) with plant protein were 10% less likely to die during a 26-32 year follow-up according to data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

“Major food contributors to plant protein included bread, cereals, pasta, nuts, beans, and legumes,” the paper notes.

Men and women who replaced 3% of their protein intake from processed red meat with plant protein were 34% less likely to die during a 26-32 year follow-up according to data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

To say this the other way, replacing 3% of plant protein intake with processed red meat was associated with a 52% greater risk of death during follow-up.

Men and women who replaced 3% of their protein intake from unprocessed red meat with plant protein were 12% less likely to die during a 26-32 year follow-up according to data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

To say this the other way, replacing 3% of plant protein intake with unprocessed red meat was associated with a 14% greater risk of death during follow-up.

Men and women who replaced 3% of their protein intake from eggs with plant protein were 19% less likely to die during a 26-32 year follow-up according to data from the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

To say this the other way, replacing 3% of plant protein intake with egg protein was associated with a 23% greater risk of death during follow-up.

Compared to those who drink 0 to 3.5 ounces of alcohol per week (0-100 grams), those who drink 3.5 to 7 ounces of alcohol per week (100-200 grams) had a lower life expectancy at age 40 of approximately 6 months according to an analysis of nearly 600,000 current drinkers in 83 studies.

Compared to those who drink 0 to 3.5 ounces of alcohol per week (0-100 grams), those who drink 7 to 12.5 ounces of alcohol per week (200-350 grams) had a lower life expectancy at age 40 of approximately 1-2 years according to an analysis of nearly 600,000 current drinkers in 83 studies.

Compared to those who drink 0 to 3.5 ounces of alcohol per week (0-100 grams), those who drink more than 12.5 ounces of alcohol per week (more than 350 grams) had a lower life expectancy at age 40 of approximately 4-5 years according to an analysis of nearly 600,000 current drinkers in 83 studies.

Every 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of alcohol per week increases risk of stroke by 14% according to an analysis of nearly 600,000 current drinkers in 83 studies.

Every 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of alcohol per week increases risk of coronary disease excluding heart attack by 6% according to an analysis of nearly 600,000 current drinkers in 83 studies.

Every 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of alcohol per week increases risk of fatal hypertensive disease by 24% according to an analysis of nearly 600,000 current drinkers in 83 studies.

Every 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of alcohol per week increases risk of fatal hypertensive disease by 24% according to an analysis of nearly 600,000 current drinkers in 83 studies.

Rosuvastatin (Crestor), a statin to lower cholesterol levels, is associated with a 9-fold increase in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as noted in an article by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con and the book Doctoring Data.

Pravastatin (Pravachol), a statin to lower cholesterol levels, is associated with a 16-fold increase in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as noted in an article by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con and the book Doctoring Data.

Atorvastatin (Lipitor), a statin to lower cholesterol levels, is associated with a 17-fold increase in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as noted in an article by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con and the book Doctoring Data.

Simvastatin (Zocor and FloL), a statin to lower cholesterol levels, is associated with a 23-fold increase in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as noted in an article by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con and the book Doctoring Data.

Lovastatin (Altoprev), a statin to lower cholesterol levels, is associated with a 107-fold increase in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) as noted in an article by Dr. Malcolm Kendrick, author of The Great Cholesterol Con and the book Doctoring Data.

Certain plant lectins cause atherosclerosis says Steven Gundry, MD in his very interesting book The Plant Paradox.

Wheat germ found in whole wheat bread and other whole grain products is one of these lectins which causes atherosclerosis according to Dr. Gundry.

Wheat germ causes additional problems as well listed below.

His advice: “Simply steer clear of whole-grain bread and other whole-grain products.”

Do statins increase cancer?

Yes, according to a letter published in Current Oncology.

The letter starts out by saying “prospective data suggest that statins actually increase cancer in certain segments of the population.”

Here are other quotes from the letter.

Obesity prevalence among children aged 2 to 5 years increased from 10.1% in 2007-2008 to 13.9% in 2015-2016 according to a study from researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Obesity prevalence among youth aged 7 to 17 years increased from 16.8% in 2007-2008 to 18.5% in 2015-2016 according to a study from researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Obesity prevalence among adults 20 years and older increased from 33.7% in 2007-2008 to 39.6% in 2015-2016 according to a study from researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Replacing 5% of calories from refined carbohydrates with plant-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 14% lower risk of coronary heart disease according to a study by researchers at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Monounsaturated fat from animal sources did not have the same effect.

Replacing 5% of calories from refined carbohydrates with animal-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 11% greater risk of coronary heart disease (as opposed to a 14% lower risk when replacing with plant-based monounsaturated fat).

Replacing 5% of calories from saturated fat with plant-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 17% lower risk of coronary heart disease according to a study by researchers at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Monounsaturated fat from animal sources did not have the same effect.

Replacing 5% of calories from refined carbohydrates with animal-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 4% greater risk of coronary heart disease (as opposed to a 17% lower risk when replacing with plant-based monounsaturated fat).

Replacing 2% of calories from trans fats with plant-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 20% lower risk of coronary heart disease according to a study by researchers at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Monounsaturated fat from animal sources did not have the same effect.

Replacing 2% of calories from trans fats with animal-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 12% lower risk of coronary heart disease (as opposed to a 20% lower risk when replacing with plant-based monounsaturated fat).

People who skipped breakfast were 2.6 times more likely to have generalized atherosclerosis independent of other cardiovascular risk factors than those who ate breakfast according to the PESA (Progression of Early Subclinical Atherosclerosis) study, of adults 40- to 54-years-old.

“Skipping breakfast is associated with an increased odds of prevalent noncoronary and generalized atherosclerosis independently of the presence of conventional [cardiovascular] risk factors,” the authors of the study concluded.