20160612 - statins

Statins 'may be a waste of time': 

Controversial report claims there's NO link between 'bad cholesterol' and heart disease

• For decades doctors have prescribed statins to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes caused by ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood
• But now a team of scientists say taking the pills may be a waste of time 
• They found no link between high LDL cholesterol and heart disease

By Ben Spencer Medical Correspondent For The Daily Mail

Published: 23:03 GMT, 12 June 2016 | Updated: 08:55 GMT, 13 June 2016

For years doctors have prescribed statins to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes caused by ‘bad’ cholesterol in the blood.

But now a team of scientists say taking the pills may be a waste of time for the over-60s – because they found no link between high levels of LDL cholesterol and heart disease. 

In fact, this ‘bad’ cholesterol may even have a protective effect by warding off infections and disease, including cancer.

Academics and cardiologists from 17 countries reviewed 19 previous studies, involving 68,000 people. 

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3638162/Statins-waste-time-60s-Row-controversial-report-says-no-link-bad-cholesterol-heart-disease.html