Study claims lowering cholesterol may NOT slash heart attack risk

Millions of people may be needlessly taking statins every day, according to research which suggests lowering cholesterol below a certain level does nothing to reduce heart risk. They found reducing the level of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol from a ‘high’ to a ‘moderate’ level did have an impact on heart risk, reducing heart emergencies by about 13 per cent. Writing in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, they said: ‘Our results do not provide support for a blanket principle that lower LDL- cholesterol is better for all patients in secondary prevention.’ The team found people who reduced their levels from a ‘high’ cholesterol level of more than 100 milligram per decilitre, to a ‘moderate’ level - between 70.1 and 100 mg/dL - were 13 per cent less likely to suffer heart attacks, angina, stroke or death. Scientists questioned the ‘blanket’ medical assumption that lowering cholesterol reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems That paper, which involved academics and cardiologists from 17 countries, found no link between high LDL-cholesterol levels and heart deaths among over-60s. ‘I recommend patients keep an open mind when taking statins, but that they monitor for signs of side effects and that they openly discuss the reasons for being on them and the risks of side effects with their GP or cardiologist.’ Professor Colin Baigent of the University of Oxford, added: ‘In patients with heart disease it is clear from the evidence that pushing cholesterol as low as possible with statins saves lives.’ London cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra, who has long campaigned against the over-use of statins, said: ‘This very interesting study reveals that getting cholesterol as low as possible as low as possible from statins in people with established heart disease adds no extra benefit than a slight reduction.