Should You Take a Statin? (Cardiovascular Disease: Part 4)
Episode Highlights
- The origin story of statins—fungal warfare and cholesterol blockade
- Why statins can cause fatigue, brain fog, muscle pain, and even heart muscle weakening
- How statins affect Coenzyme Q10, heme A, and mitochondrial energy
- What real-world data (not drug-sponsored trials) reveals about statin side effects
- When statins might help—and when they likely won’t
- Why lowering LDL may not always reduce heart attack or stroke risk
- What the ASCVD risk calculator gets wrong—and how to use it anyway
- The role of PCSK9 inhibitors and why they didn’t save more lives
- How inflammation, not cholesterol, may be the real driver of disease
Show Notes
In this episode, Dr. Kumar takes a hard look at statins, the most widely prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications in the world. He explores whether these drugs truly prevent heart disease—and at what cost.
With stories from his own medical journey, deep analysis of industry-funded trials, and a breakdown of the data on benefits vs. side effects, this episode equips you to make an informed decision.
He walks through:
- The Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration (CTT)
- The JUPITER trial and statins’ anti-inflammatory effect
- The FOURIER trial on PCSK9 inhibitors and mortality
- The ASCVD risk calculator—and why it often overestimates risk
- Alternatives like bempedoic acid, CAC scans, and lifestyle changes
This is the episode for anyone who’s ever asked: Should I be on a statin—or is there a better way?
Resources Mentioned
ASCVD Risk Calculator Statins for Primary Prevention – NNT Review CTT Meta-Analysis – 2012 Lancet Paper NEJM FOURIER Trial – Evolocumab Statins and Myopathy – PRIMO Study Statins and CoQ10 Pathways Statins and Cognitive Function – Pilot Study Dr. Kumar’s Review – JUPITER Trial ASCVD Risk Calculator Overestimation – Blog Therapeutics Initiative Report JAMA Meta-Analysis – Statins in Primary Prevention BMJ Open – Industry Funding of Trials Dr. Kumar’s Statin Side Effect Summary Golomb 2006 – Statins and Mitochondrial Injury Ravnskov Regression Critique Statins for Low-Risk Patients – NNT Summary
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