Statins

Articles tagged with "Statins".

Is Coronary Artery Calcium Testing the Best Way to Decide on Statins?

Tags: Cardiovascular, Heart Health, Coronary Calcium, Statins

March 9, 2025

Dr. Kumar’s Take:

A recent study from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) suggests that coronary artery calcium (CAC) testing can help doctors make better decisions about who should take statins. Instead of giving statins to all intermediate-risk patients, CAC testing allows doctors to focus treatment on those who truly need it, potentially reducing unnecessary medication use and side effects.

If you’re at intermediate risk for heart disease, getting a CAC test could help you and your doctor make a more informed decision about statin therapy. It may be a cost-effective way to prevent heart disease while avoiding unnecessary medication.

Should You Take a Statin if Your LDL is High on a Low-Carb Diet?

Tags: Cardiovascular, LDL, Statins, Low-Carb Diet

March 8, 2025

Dr. Kumar’s Take:

This study challenges the long-held belief that LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) is always harmful. The authors argue that in the context of a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD), high LDL-C may not be a sign of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Instead, they suggest looking at other markers—such as insulin resistance, triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score—before deciding whether statins are necessary.

For those on an low carbohydrate diet with high LDL-C but otherwise good metabolic markers (low triglycerides, high HDL), this study suggests that statins may not provide the same benefits as they do for those with high LDL-C caused by poor diet and metabolic disease.