Statins: A Miracle Drug That Could Prevent and Reverse Disease? Long prescribed to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood, high doses of statins might even end plaque build-up, according to researchers.
A daily pill, bempodoic acid, has the potential to lower risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke for people who can't or won't take statins.
A new study has shown that another drug called Nexletol (bempedoic acid) can help people lower their cholesterol and prevent heart disease without causing the muscle pain that can come with taking statins.
A newer drug called Nexletol was approved in 2020 by the FDA to treat high cholesterol, but the new study published in NEJM shows that the drug also reduces the risk of heart disease. Researchers believe this data supports using Nexletol as a safe and effective alternative for many people who cannot take statins.
March 6, 2023 – For people who don't take common cholesterol medications due to side effects such as muscle aches, a new study suggests taking a drug called bempedoic acid may be more tolerable and still offer sizable protection for their hearts.
Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods
Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your LDL cholesterol.
A person is considered at high risk for developing heart disease if their total cholesterol level is higher than 240 mg/dL, LDL levels are higher than 160 mg/dL (190 mg/dL is even higher risk), and if the HDL level is below 40 mg/dL.
A team from University Hospitals and Case Western Reserve University has identified a small-molecule drug that effectively reduces cholesterol by 70% in animal models. PCSK9 inhibitors are the second most common type of medication used to manage cholesterol levels, following statins.
Specifically, lipophilic statins (those that dissolve more readily in lipids such as oils and fats) may be more effective for preventing liver cancer than hydrophilic statins (those that dissolve more readily in water).
There isn't one best statin to take. No individual statin has been proven to be best at preventing heart attacks and strokes. But there is evidence that rosuvastatin and atorvastatin decrease harmful cholesterol more than other statins. Some people will clearly benefit from taking a statin.
A: Yes. There have been several clinical studies — many of them done here at Cleveland Clinic — that show statins can reverse plaque buildup. Two statins in particular, atorvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, which is sold under the brand name Crestor, are the strongest statins.
Statin use has been linked to a higher risk of developing diabetes because the medication can fuel mild glucose elevations in predisposed individuals — an effect that can often be countervailed by exercise and losing as little as a few pounds.
Statins. Statins are the most common medicine for high cholesterol. They reduce the amount of cholesterol your body makes.
It's important to know that stopping statins cold turkey, or even gradually, can cause serious health problems and you should talk to your doctor before doing so.
Niacin is a B vitamin that helps support your digestive system, nervous system, and skin. It is available over the counter as a supplement. Niacin is sometimes used to help lower cholesterol, but there is evidence that taking it with a statin could increase the risk of experiencing statin side effects.
Increase soluble fiber.
Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber is found in such foods as oatmeal, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears.
The researchers found that participants who took apple cider vinegar not only lost more weight than those who took a placebo but also had lower triglycerides and total cholesterol. The people who took apple cider vinegar also had significantly raised levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.
Statin drugs lower LDL cholesterol by slowing down the liver's production of cholesterol. They also increase the liver's ability to remove LDL cholesterol that is already in the blood. Bile acid sequestrants help remove cholesterol from the bloodstream by removing bile acids.
Statins are effective, accessible, and affordable. However, well-known side effects like muscle pain keep some people from taking them.
There is scientific evidence to show that changing the things you eat can help lower cholesterol levels, as can exercising and stopping smoking. This can be enough to lower your need for medication — or remove it altogether.