Hardening of Arteries Can Be Caused by Statins

This is a warning that statins may not be the miracle drug many cardiologists claim. People taking the drugs are more likely to suffer from hardening of the arteries, a leading cause of heart problems. And no, this is not the first time this has been said. See paragraph three below.

In addition, researchers found the drugs block a process that protects the heart.  This can “cause, or worsen, heart failure”, according to a study. The lead author says: “I cannot find any evidence to support people taking statins.”

In the research published in Diabetes Care (in 2012), scientists examining patients with type 2 diabetes and severe atherosclerosis discovered that coronary artery calcification was decidedly greater in more frequent statin users compared to those who were less frequent users. Even more disturbing, in a subgroup of participants who initially did not take statins, advancement of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and aortic artery calcification (AAC) was decidedly greater in those who used statins frequently.

Some side effects are skeletal weakness and muscle pain. Now Professor Harumi Okuyama, whose team studied a series of more than 20 major research papers on the drugs, says they could cause heart disease.

Dr Okuyama, of Nagoya City University, Japan, said: “We have collected a wealth of information on cholesterol and statins from many published papers and find overwhelming evidence that these drugs accelerate hardening of the arteries and can cause, or worsen, heart failure. I cannot find any evidence to support people taking statins and patients who are on them should stop.”

The researchers say the hypothesis that statins protect the heart by lowering cholesterol is flawed and that high cholesterol is not necessarily linked to heart disease. They also found statins have a negative effect on vital body processes linked to heart health.

They discovered patients taking the drugs were more likely to have calcium deposits in their arteries, a phenomenon directly linked to heart attacks. This is because statins block a molecule needed for the body to produce a vital K vitamin, which prevents calcification of the arteries. Dr Okuyama and his team say many earlier industry-sponsored studies, which show the benefits of statins, are unreliable.

Researchers says that high cholesterol is not necessarily linked to heart disease.  They claim this is because they were carried out before new European regulations were introduced in 2004, which insisted on all trial findings, both negative and positive, being declared.

The study states that before these new rules came into effect “unfair and unethical problems were associated with clinical trials reported by industry-supported scientists”.

Dr Okuyama’s team looked at studies before and after 2004. They found: “The epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs. We propose that current statin treatment guidelines be critically re-evaluated.”

Dr Malcolm Kendrick, who has studied heart health and statins, said: “This study demolishes the argument that these drugs should be prescribed to anyone, as the harms clearly outweigh any previously suggested benefits.”

Dr Peter Langsjoen, a heart specialist based in Texas who is co-author of the study, said: “Statins are being used so aggressively and in such large numbers of people that the adverse effects are now becoming obvious. These drugs should never have been approved for use. The long-term effects are devastating.”

Is There a Best Way, Part 2

Part 2 of 2 parts


I hope that the last blog did not scare you. Many of the items are a must and not doing them may create future problems. Baselines of information related to diabetes is important. I purposely left out one item and that is seeing a cardiologist (heart doctor) as most primary care physicians (PCPs) or family physicians (FPs) will check the heart and refer you if they feel it is necessary. Yes, a few will ignore warning signs and you will probably end up in the emergency department.


Others will prescribe statins, often over prescribe is more like it. Then they will look at your blood pressure and prescribe drugs to bring it down. I don't know which is worse, having the PCP do this or the cardiologist do this. If a doctor insists on prescribing statins, ask that they not prescribe the maximum dosage. Even FDA has cautions about doing this.


This is unfair any way you cut it, but there is a test to determine if you have a need for statins. The test is not cheap and as of yet Medicare and medical insurance will not pay for the test because it is not a diagnostic test, but strictly informational. The test is explained here and helps determine if you have the KIF6 carriers. If you do not, then you don't need statins. If you have the carriers then the statin may prevent the heart attack or heart disease. I checked with my insurance carrier and they will not cover the test.


Blood pressure medications are not that large of a problem, but some people don't need them and can use alternative therapies to lower their blood pressure. Be careful as some people are not successful with alternative therapies. This article in Science Daily can be a reference.


The more of the items you accomplish from the last blog, the easier it will be to know if something is headed in the wrong direction and to what degree. This is why having a baseline is so important. Many will ignore the suggestions and later when diabetes complications set in, there is no reference point to know how long this has been going on and whether the progression is serious or not. I met an individual recently that is nearly blind because of diabetes. He has had diabetes for over 15 years and has not managed his diabetes nor his eyesight. When I asked when he had found out about his eyesight, he said about a month prior and he had not been to an eye doctor ever that he could remember until then. I asked why he had not gone and he said, what will happen will happen, and in addition to retinopathy he had advanced cataracts as well. I had wanted to ask more questions, but his guide was wanting to continue on.