The Truth About Statins: Risks and Alternatives to Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

by Barbara H. Roberts

Could statin drugs actually harm you?

Despite the rosy picture painted in the ads of a miracle cure for high cholesterol and its attendant heart disease, the reality of taking statins may be far less pretty. Dr. Barbara H. Roberts, director of the Women’s Cardiac Center at the Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island, discusses both the benefits and health risks of these popular drugs in this comprehensive guide that finally reveals the questionable science behind the research studies. This honest, patient-friendly appraisal of the most widely used medications in the world may shock you, but it may also save your life.

Offering clear-cut, easy-to-understand information in an easily accessible fashion, Dr. Roberts explains how to take the best possible care of your heart,

The keys to maintaining cardiovascular well-being How to interpret your cholesterol numbers The frightening adverse effects of popular drugs It is time to take charge of your heart health. Learn the facts behind the hype so that you can make informed decisions on a subject vital to your continued health. If you or someone you love either takes a statin or is considering doing so, you need to read this book.Includes recipes for a delicious and heart-healthy diet, including Wasabi-Roasted Salmon, Pasta with Avocado Sauce, and Lemon-Pineapple Breakfast Muffins.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Medical, Nutrition

Audible Audio

First published April 24, 2012

Reviews

[Jacob Bond · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I liked:

Barbara did a good job describing the potential side-effects of statins. Also, by including stories of patients who experienced these side-effects and stopped when they quit the drugs, she made the repercussions more memorable and more real. She included MANY recipes, which I didn't read, that would surely help somebody not knowing where to start in "healthier" eating. She made it clear that not everybody should be on statins and explained the types of conditions and levels that appropriately warrant them, and, more importantly, what side-effects warrant their immediate disuse. She backed up a lot of what she said with research. I loved how she was consistent on how she presented the takings from the research (the absolute risk was X, the relative risk was Y, and Z was/was not statistically significant). Finally, I enjoyed how she didn't excessively focus on one statin more than the other or one treatment and did a fair job covering it all in equivalent depth.

What I didn't like:

I remember her talking about scientists' primitive view on the implications on cholesterol and what parts of it was measured and then used to make clinical decisions. She stated that we've come a long way since then. To her, a long way is distinguishing between HDL, LDL, and VLDL. However, what is known today is that even that is not sufficient in making sound clinical decisions! I'd be delighted in seeing "The Truth About Statins, Pt. 2" updated with research about LDL-P, Lp(a), insulin resistance, and ApoB.

She touched on the A-Z Trial and said that Dr. Atkins died of heart disease. I'm surprised of her ignorance on this... that is NOT how he died. It was head trauma. And from then on, she discounts low-carb diets though in that trial it did just as good as her advocated Mediterranean diet and in some ways WAY better! In this sense she totally disregarded honesty. I suspect she didn't recommend that because it is a diet high in animal products.

She should have included more about inflammation and much more about the widely accepted mechanical theory of heart disease which states that in order for the inflammation cascade to begin, there must be forces that send LDL particles into the intima (hypertension), oxidizing agents to create the immune response (HIGH glucose, toxins, chronic aerobic exercise, etc.), and other factors.

Lastly, I wish she would have included an optional section that went heavily into the science. I understand she probably wanted to appeal to a general audience, but by making it optional and not the entirety of the book, she could have added to her credibility with more medically savvy individuals - those who want the to know the why.

Final comments:

This book would be a good primer for those interested in the, well, "truth about statins". Most people think stains are either free of side effects (because they've been convinced what they're feeling is age-related or "just a part of gettin' older") or well worth the side effects because their doctor said so (promising them this pill will save their lives). However, this book isn't good for people who want to know the mechanism. The sheer number of recipes make it attractive for those interested and ready to do something different with their heart health.

[Janal · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad's health has been on a downward spiral for a number of years as he's been diagnoses with some serious neurological disorders and dementia. In addition he's experienced depression, possible diabetes, etc., etc. These conditions have caused him to lose his independence and ability to exercise, he's been tired, miserable and in pain. Mainstream doctors have been basing their diagnosis on discussions rather than test results and throwing more and more pharmaceutical 'cures' at him. He finally agreed to try something new and I've been taking him to see a doctor (neurologist) who doesn't take favors or advice from drug companies. Instead he advocates nutrition and supplementation. Dad has been taken off 2/3 of his medications and positive results continue to present. He is able to drive again and feels hopeful. He's now off the statin which has been a long time medication and the possible basis for many of his degenerative conditions.

The Truth About Statins is written by a respected cardiologist. The book details pros, cons, statistics, drug studies (methods, results, interpretations), mechanisms of the drug. She also addresses the natural and necessary role of cholesterol and the question of whether it is actually the demon it's been characterized as, as well as number dangers.

The author of this book treats her patients similarly to dad's new doctor and has some great success stories to share about longevity and health. Every day we age and every day our risk of dying from either a health related condition or by accident increases. We are mortal creatures. I highly recommend you read this book and consider whether you'd like your death to be preceded by years of disability, pain, medical interventions and bills due to side effects of these drugs. My dad and his generation have unknowingly and unfortunately been the 'guinea pigs' in the long term trials. You don't need to be.

Stand up for yourself, take charge of your health. Read this book.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an eye-opener for me. It is definitely something women should read, but also very helpful for men.

When my doctor put me on statins, the only side-effect that was ever talked about was the once or twice a year lab work to see if I still have normal liver function. I was very surprised to see the other side effects associated with Simvastatin, which I take. I have some of these side-effects, but I do not know if they are because of the drug, or if it would be happening to me anyway. I have however noticed a marked increase in shoulder issues ever since my doctor doubled my dosage even though my numbers were good. And also since I have been taking statins, I have been diagnosed with Type II diabetes, another side-effect.He just wanted to get it a little lower.

Since finishing this book, I have talked my doctor into going back to 40mg instead of 80. I am not going off it completely as I have other risk factors.

This book also hits very heavily on the Mediterranean Diet (MD), even including some recipes in the back. The MD is very similar to USDA MyPlate. The main differences are in the grains an legumes in that the MD, they are varieties that are specific to that region. Go here for good info on the differences between the two.

I am on WeightWatchers, and the MD very well fits within the WeightWatchers' plan, provided you follow your PointsPlus. I am going to get more info on the MD. Perhaps eventually I can get to the point where I can get off these drugs.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is an expert who is not afraid to speak out and from whom much can be learned. We need to be an informed public, whether or not -as individuals- we choose to take a statin. Women especially should read this book because, in describing the research methods used and how Big Pharma reports results in the media, it's clear that statins are being pushed on people who don't need them and might ultimately suffer serious side effects from them. Statistics especially seem to indicate that healthy women (NO currently diagnosed heart disease and NO prior heart attacks) show no statistically significant difference re risk for dying of a heart attack or experiencing a heart attack when taking a "preventative" statin than women in similar circumstance that don't take the same statin. THAT'S EVEN IF THEY'RE TOLD THEIR OVERALL AND LDL LEVELS ARE HIGH. It's not all about cholesterol- and you need to read the book to understand it and to learn about alternatives. And decide for yourself. Knowledge is power... the power to make wise decisions re our own health.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author does a good job of recounting errors in studies and she explains misinterpretation of study results. However, I was convinced early in the book that the pharmaceutical companies and healthcare administrators don't necessarily have our best interests in mind, so the continual examples of this became redundant. There is a little information on alternatives to prescription drug treatment for high cholesterol, but it is not a main part of the book. I would have liked further discussion of these alternatives.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems to me that doctors and drug companies won't be content until every Baby Boomer is on Lipitor or a statin drug for cholesterol. They keep lowering the "number" and nag about statins. READ THIS BOOK BEFORE YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR! Yes, in some cases statins may be the answer but they are NOT the only answer for every case, especially for women!

[Sheryl Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

With so many people on statin drugs in the United States, this book is a must read. The public has been brainwashed and duped.

[Mary Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got a little repetitive, but a good review of the clinical evidence and a fine starting point for a making a decision about going on statins. I had already decided that if I was urged to do so I would say no. This book gives me the data to both confirm my choice and support it if I ever need to.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good information. It repeats itself a lot but information is presented in a way that is easy to understand with a lot of examples provided.

[Kelly Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good info, parts were too technical/medical for me.

[Slava Bernat · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has some important message and correctly highlights the importance of being skeptical about use of statins and being vigilant about your physician's decisions. After all, your health is your own business. There's also a good introduction into cardiac health for lay reader with no background. These good things, however, take about 1/5 of the book. About the same size is taken by recipes of Mediterranean-ish diet.

On the negative side, the defaming of Big Pharma is overwhelming and often not fair. Surely, one can't easily dismiss billion-dollar-worth bias but it's only a part (arguably most solid) of Dr. Roberts's criticism. Author consistently applies selective rigor against pharma-sponsored statin research. She downplays the benefits by providing 'absolute' risk decrease while displaying standard relative risk reduction as some kind of artificial concept developed by Pharma marketing teams. At the same time you won't find 'absolute benefit' in the discussion of mediterranean diet. To counter findings of pre-registered double-blind placebo studies overseen by FDA, the author offers a bunch of anecdotal case studies and most probably underpowered (that is with sample size around 1/10-th of a good clinical trial) diet research. With this logic, one could promote whiskey and smoking as good for longevity based on Winston Churchill's impressive 90-year lifespan.

Then the author uses the very typical Pharma trick of subgroup analysis but in a reversed way. Normally when clinical trial doesn't work, Pharma statisticians would crunch numbers in order to find some slice of patients that could still benefit from the treatment. Dr. Roberts, in contrast, runs a post-hoc subgroup analysis in order to find groups for which statins don't work. It turns out that women benefit from the drugs less - and that may very well be real effect. The other weak argument in the book is about using 'soft' endpoints (like physicians' decisions to do operations - which are quite subjective) instead of 'hard' endpoints (heart attacks or death - which are objective), to establish effectiveness of statins. For some reason author presents this as working exclusively in favor of statin, as if in a double-blind study subjective physicians somehow can distinguish between statin- and placebo-treated patients.

To end the review on a positive note, the main message is actually correct and important - one has to be mindful about benefit/risk ratio for using statins. Especially for primary prevention. Especially for women. The way the evidence is presented, however, is disappointing.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific review of the actual science of pharmaceuticals and of the deceptive and downright unethical practices of big pharma, the FDA and the media surrounding blockbuster drugs, specifically statins. I enjoyed the emphasis on “fact based medicine” as the better way to treat patients. The analysis of flaws in clinical trials was also very well done.
There was a certain amount of emphasis on Mediterranean diet and the research behind it. Would have been nice to have more in depth info on nutrition overall, although that was not the primary focus of the text.
I was surprised that there was no mention of particle size within LDL and of the role of oxidation of LDL vs simply amounts of LDL. That would have nicely reinforced the evidence gleaned from clinical trials and meta data studies. LDL as used today is a poor predictor of CVD and one of the last scare tactics used by docs and big pharma to bully people into statins and low fat diets, paving the way to diabetes and obesity.
Overall, an excellent and informative read.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning: this book is pro-Mediterranean diet. I stopped at page 103. When the author started talking about Ancel Keys and how he did a study and found that the Mediterranean diet was so good for you, I had to stop. His "study" started with 22 countries but only 7 followed what he thought was right. Do some research and you will find out how flawed his "study" was.

The beginning of the book talks about how bad statins can be for people and how the benefits are so low, and the risks can be so high. I'm so glad I stopped taking statins a long time ago. Then the book comes to the preferred diet of the author. Most of the foods will raise blood sugar in diabetics. Why eat a certain way if it makes you stay sick?

I did learn some things about how bad statins are and why the pharmaceutical companies want everyone to take them. Not for me. BTW, I eat a ketovore diet. Part keto and part carnivore. My numbers are so good right now. I'll never go back to the SAD(Standard American Diet) diet.

[Lisa Yunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good takeaways but still confused. Cholesterol limits continue to decrease so pharma can prescribe statins in greater numbers to improve the bottom line. Cholesterol may not be as scary as big pharma wants us to believe yet a lot of the book talks about reducing LDL through the Mediterranean diet. So- is it important or not? Another reviewer pointed out Robert's claim that transfat free still includes some transfat which should be avoided. However, she includes margarine (non-transfat) in her recipes. Margarine? Do the research.

After reading this, I'm confused about whether or not LDL is bad. I think she's suggesting it is but diet is the best way to tackle the issue given the horrific side effects of statins.

Another point of confusion is her discussion of Red Yeast Rice. Discovered by the Chinese, LDL rates were improved by taking this herb, identical to Lovostatin, to the point pharma intervened and said the supplement required FDA regulation. What she doesn't say is if Red Yeast rice is good, harmful or otherwise.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean yeah screw statins and live better to improve your health. but I’d have liked a less plant based view on things and some extra fact checking around some meat disparaging and Atkins death and island of Crete.

For example Atkins did not die of a heart attack but falling and hitting his head thereafter being in hospital for a few days. The island of Crete which is brought up as an example to eat extremely little animal food many plants and some fish was follows lent - something ignored by mr keys and he visited during lent when people obviously were not eating meat and poultry. Kinda cringe when so much work is put into dissection some studies but when it fits her plants are good idea glaring problems are ignored.

[Hollowell Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

cautionary, clear, and corrective - Cardiologist Dr. Barbara Roberts has researched statins extensively. They are one of the most widely-prescribed medications in the Western world. The author shares stories from her own family and patients. She urges readers to consider doing what she herself does, eating a Mediterranean diet. "If you or someone you love takes a statin, please read this book. It might just save your life," she writes.

[Vicky French · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just OK

I learned a lot about how and why statins are a problem. He tells about how a lot of studies are misleading and facts that were ignored. (Very Technical) Very good information! He lists practical ways to improve cholesterol on your own. There are a lot of recipes for the Mediterranean Diet. I follow the Keto diet so most of the recipes are not useful for my diet.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book for a while but finally got around to reading it after my doctor, yet again, suggested I go on a statin drug. Previous personal research had convinced me these drugs were not for me. Now Barbara Robert's indepth explanations have hardened my opinion. I will be respectfully telling my doctor that I decline. Very well written book, easy to understand.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express how statin drugs have adversely affected me and my husband. If you are on statins and have never had a heart event, PLEASE stop taking them for a week and see how you feel. Then call your doctor. Read this book. These are facts. We have lived this nightmare.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, actionable information about how to lower one's risk of heart disease and steer clear of Big Pharma's statin racket. Well explained and thoroughly researched, evidence based advice. Highly recommend this book.

[Ken Mattes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was published in 3012, the audio book read by the author who is a cardiologist, addresses the evidenced based studies behind the “pushing” of statins for “healthy individuals. The Mediterranean Diet and non-statin treatments may deliver similar results.

[Janell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very informative, after reading I will try harder to adjust my diet. Statins don't seem to affect all the same and I am not sure it's worth the risk to take a station.

[Liane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting perspective and good background. Leading up to Mediterranean diet

[A. Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was helpful, but I think the pertinent information could be distilled into a single article.

[Nel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend reading if you want to know whether or not you should take statins.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative for me.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a Doctor has recommended a statin, especially if you are a woman, I strongly suggest you do some research on the pros and cons, and this book should be part of that research.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good material but left me with a lot more questions than answers.

[Charlie Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth A read before you accept a recommendation to take statins from your Doctor

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok.... so I really just skimmed this book and read parts here and there... but I think I don't want to take statins anymore.. and at least am not taking them as of right now.. the main point I remember is that is you have no history in your family of heart trouble there is really no reason to take statins.. as prevention of that is their purpose.. I hope my cholesterol readings are better the next I get some bloodwork so I can avoid them..