Is It the Reduced LDLs, or Is It the Statins?

Two years ago, the National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP) expert panel released new guidelines on treating cholesterol. A prominent feature of those guidelines was that, for the first time, ultra-low LDL cholesterol levels (less than 7 mg/dl) were urged for high-risk patients. Since then, "LDL - the lower the better," has become nearly dogma. But now, a new analysis of the same data that led to this recommendation for ultra-low LDLs suggests a startling hypothsesis - it may not be the low LDL levels themselves, but the statin drugs that were used to reach these low LDL levels, that provided much of the clinical benefit. If this is the case, then lowering cholesterol by means other than through the use of statins may not be as effective. To read about this new analysis, and for DrRich's take on what it really means, click here.