Heart Disease In The News

Too little cholesterol may also be risky
January 15, 2001

A recent study from Japan suggests that patients whose cholesterol levels are too low may also be at increased risk for early mortality.

The researchers administered Simvastatin (one of the statin cholesterol-lowering drugs) to 40,000 people with high cholesterol levels but no history of heart problems.  Of these, 800 people died during the course of the study.

Patients whose total cholesterol was between 180 and 280 died at about the same proportion as the general population.  But patients whose cholesterol levels were either above or below this range died at about twice the rate as the general population.

This study appears to be a blow to the growing sentiment among many doctors that, where cholesterol is concerned, "the lower the better."   It also gives ammunition to those who oppose allowing patients access to statins on an over-the-counter basis.

Full Story

Take our poll: Should consumers have access to over-the-counter statins?