Drug Alert: Vytorin Proves Expensive & Ineffective
Over $5 Billion Wasted on Vytorin
Vytorin, a combination of cholesterol drug Zetia and statin drug Zocor, failed to live up to the hype of drug advertisements. Research on this expensive drug has shown it to be no better at reducing clogged arteries than generic drugs. Zetia, which is prescribed to about 1 million people a week, failed to show any medical benefits. While Zetia lowers cholesterol by 15-20 percent in most patients, no trial has shown that it can reduce heart attacks and strokes, or that it reduces the growth of the fatty plaques in arteries that are believed to cause heart problems. (New York Times)
Merck and Schering-Plough, the sellers of Vytorin, completed the clinical trial in April 2006, but did not report the negative results until 2008. It has been estimated that the United States wasted over 5 BILLION dollars on these ineffective drugs. (abc news)
If these drugs were effective at lowering cholesterol levels in patients, why weren’t they effective at reducing heart attacks and strokes? Total cholesterol levels below 180mg/dl have been recommended for better health. However, the all-cause death rate is higher in individuals with cholesterol levels lower than 180mg/dl. (Circulation 1992 86:3:1026-1029)
The public has been told heart disease is caused by consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat from animal products. During the period of rapid increase in heart disease (1920-1960), American consumption of animal fats declined but consumption of hydrogenated and industrially processed vegetable fats increased dramatically. (USDA-HNI)
Though saturated fats and foods high in cholesterol have been targeted as part of the problem, man-made trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils appear to be more dangerous. Margarine (hydrogenated vegetable oil) eaters have twice the rate of heart disease as butter eaters. (Nutrition Week 3/22/91 21:12)
Coconut oil, which is high in saturated fat, is supposed to cause heart disease. When coconut oil was fed as 7% of energy to patients recovering from heart attacks, the patients had greater improvement compared to untreated controls, and no difference compared to patents treated with corn or safflower oils.
Populations that consume coconut oil have low rates of heart disease. Coconut oil may also be one of the most useful oils to prevent heart disease because of its antiviral and antimicrobial characteristics.(JAMA 1967202:1119-1123; Am J Clin Nutr 1981 34:1552)
Research has actually shown cholesterol functions to protect blood vessels and is necessary for the body to function correctly. Additionally, natural saturated fat is an important part of our diet. Next time you cook choose the coconut oil or butter over margarine or other vegetable oils.
Merck and Schering-Plough, the sellers of Vytorin, completed the clinical trial in April 2006, but did not report the negative results until 2008. It has been estimated that the United States wasted over 5 BILLION dollars on these ineffective drugs. (abc news)
If these drugs were effective at lowering cholesterol levels in patients, why weren’t they effective at reducing heart attacks and strokes? Total cholesterol levels below 180mg/dl have been recommended for better health. However, the all-cause death rate is higher in individuals with cholesterol levels lower than 180mg/dl. (Circulation 1992 86:3:1026-1029)
The public has been told heart disease is caused by consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat from animal products. During the period of rapid increase in heart disease (1920-1960), American consumption of animal fats declined but consumption of hydrogenated and industrially processed vegetable fats increased dramatically. (USDA-HNI)
Though saturated fats and foods high in cholesterol have been targeted as part of the problem, man-made trans fats and hydrogenated vegetable oils appear to be more dangerous. Margarine (hydrogenated vegetable oil) eaters have twice the rate of heart disease as butter eaters. (Nutrition Week 3/22/91 21:12)
Coconut oil, which is high in saturated fat, is supposed to cause heart disease. When coconut oil was fed as 7% of energy to patients recovering from heart attacks, the patients had greater improvement compared to untreated controls, and no difference compared to patents treated with corn or safflower oils.
Populations that consume coconut oil have low rates of heart disease. Coconut oil may also be one of the most useful oils to prevent heart disease because of its antiviral and antimicrobial characteristics.(JAMA 1967202:1119-1123; Am J Clin Nutr 1981 34:1552)
Research has actually shown cholesterol functions to protect blood vessels and is necessary for the body to function correctly. Additionally, natural saturated fat is an important part of our diet. Next time you cook choose the coconut oil or butter over margarine or other vegetable oils.
