Cholesterol and diet

Pop_Up_Pirate

splishsplash wrote: »

Could you include links for us to review the evidence backing your opinions?

There is a strong evidence base for using statins as primary prevention for cardiovascular disease as well as for people who have already suffered an event.

Your risk of cardiovascular disease is calculated using a QRISK2 tool - linky. Evidence shows statins can lower your risk of an atherosclerotic CVD event significantly.

Cardiovascular disease is still the highest cause of death in the UK. Many people (at least 1 in every 500) have familial hypercholesterolaemia - a genetic defect - where they lack the ability to remove LDL from the blood so have circulating high levels from birth. All the dietary change in the world won't touch that, I'm afraid and they will need statins as they develop higher risks for CVD earlier in life.

Statins are safe for the majority of people over a long time, but they can have side effects, certainly. The question is how those side effects compare against heart attacks, strokes, clots, etc.

Dietary modification is a necessary part in managing cholesterol, no doubt about it, but to suggest that's all that's needed is, well, simply not accurate.

I think you are referring to the MTHFR gene mutation that affects around 35% - 40% of the population.
This gene mutation doesn't mean someone will get health problems, only that they have a risk of developing them. Heart disease, Fibro, Autism, MS, cancers, thyroid problems, are just a few. The mutation is getting 'worse' as each generation goes by, causing a myriad of health problems.

The defect results in a failure of the body to operate certain methylation pathways and convert amino acids properly. Basically, it;s a chemical reaction that doesn't happen properly these days due to eating toxic foods and living in a toxic environment. The gene is being 'expressed' in larger numbers due to our lifestyles. Homocystine gets out of control due to a lack of folate. (NOT folic acid, which should be avoided)
http://mthfr.net/

However, it is Fixable!

http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Outcomes-Non-CV-Autism-Methyl%20Cycle.htm

Eating a diet with 'Methyl donors' is extremely helpful. Things such as garlic, onions, avocado, green leafy veg, berries etc
Also, avoid all the foods which are 'bad' for us such as manufactured cooking oils, spreads, spray frys, all processed & packaged foods and stick to wholefoods.

People with this mutation also tend to be deficient in B-vits (even if tests say otherwise) folate and cannot tolerate metals and sulfurs.
The following medications should be avoided if you have the MTHFR gene mutation but obviously consult the doc and get tested first or pay for a gene test
-Acid blockers and Antacids
-Nitrous oxide
-Statins
-Methotrexate
-Metformin
-Estrogen birth control
-Sulfa-containing drugs
-Anti-depressants
-Vaccinations
-Fluoride
-Antifungals
-Antibiotics
-Synthetic vitamins, which folic acid is one of. The natural form is FOLATE.
+Others.

If there are chronic health problems, it is always better to address the root cause rather than mask symptoms with medications, which can lead to the development of further health problems in the long term.
Eat a clean diet, avoid environment toxins as much as possible (such as medications) and manage stress levels and many health problems will take care of themselves, despite gene mutations.

McKneff

I had a heart attack, i have statins to avoid another one, so far 3 years later i have had no problems

splishsplash

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

I think you are referring to the MTHFR gene mutation that affects around 35% - 40% of the population.
This gene mutation doesn't mean someone will get health problems, only that they have a risk of developing them. Heart disease, Fibro, Autism, MS, cancers, thyroid problems, are just a few. The mutation is getting 'worse' as each generation goes by, causing a myriad of health problems.

The defect results in a failure of the body to operate certain methylation pathways and convert amino acids properly. Basically, it;s a chemical reaction that doesn't happen properly these days due to eating toxic foods and living in a toxic environment. The gene is being 'expressed' in larger numbers due to our lifestyles. Homocystine gets out of control due to a lack of folate. (NOT folic acid, which should be avoided)
http://mthfr.net/

However, it is Fixable!

http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Outcomes-Non-CV-Autism-Methyl%20Cycle.htm

Eating a diet with 'Methyl donors' is extremely helpful. Things such as garlic, onions, avocado, green leafy veg, berries etc
Also, avoid all the foods which are 'bad' for us such as manufactured cooking oils, spreads, spray frys, all processed & packaged foods and stick to wholefoods.

People with this mutation also tend to be deficient in B-vits (even if tests say otherwise) folate and cannot tolerate metals and sulfurs.
The following medications should be avoided if you have the MTHFR gene mutation but obviously consult the doc and get tested first or pay for a gene test
-Acid blockers and Antacids
-Nitrous oxide
-Statins
-Methotrexate
-Metformin
-Estrogen birth control
-Sulfa-containing drugs
-Anti-depressants
-Vaccinations
-Fluoride
-Antifungals
-Antibiotics
-Synthetic vitamins, which folic acid is one of. The natural form is FOLATE.
+Others.

If there are chronic health problems, it is always better to address the root cause rather than mask symptoms with medications, which can lead to the development of further health problems in the long term.
Eat a clean diet, avoid environment toxins as much as possible (such as medications) and manage stress levels and many health problems will take care of themselves, despite gene mutations.

No, I'm referring to familial hypercholesterolemia - an inherited mutation of chromosome 19 - which is not fixable. There are different degrees of the mutation, none of which relate to methylation all of which refer specifically to activity levels of the LDL receptors and their ability to bind to LDL and clear it from the blood. These mutations very definitely DO lead to health problems - in some cases from early childhood - and do NOT respond to diet only interventions. It's a bit like telling a type 1 diabetic that they are 'fixable', it's not going to happen. These people really do need statins to avoid cardiovascular events.

While I agree in principle with a clean diet and avoiding toxic influences, it's by no means a panacea and does not replace the need for medication where medication is necessary.

I would be happy to see all women of childbearing years being on a steady supplement of b complex vitamins and folic acid, to protect cardiovascular health (and against neural tube defects) but that is concerned with lowering homocysteine - nothing at all to do with LDL receptor problems.

teddysmum

As I have said above, my need for statins is not diet related. In fact when I saw a dietician, when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she said my diet was good. Also,I am not obese, but am 68.


It is dangerous for a layman to recommend that people do not take a drug which has been recommended by a health professional(especially one of the more qualified ones) as that layman does not know the circumstances.


Forum rules forbid giving medical advice and this is bordering on medical advice.