Duane Graveline MD MPH
Former NASA Astronaut, Former USAF Flight Surgeon
and Retired Family Doctor

The fact that statin drugs are two-edged swords is known to few. It is no wonder doctors are confused about this class of drugs. 

When a statin reduces cholesterol, it is, at the same time, reducing synthesis of CoQ10, dolichols, selenoproteins, Rho, glutathione and normal phosphorylation by a similar amount. This, I believe, is the cause of the thousands of side effect reports largely unknown to the medical community.

Study after study has shown the benefit of statin drugs in reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Almost buried in this barrage of positive results, however, is the growing research evidence that this reduction of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality from statin use has occurred independently of cholesterol lowering effect.

Adding to cholesterol's innocence is its vital role in our bodies - mediator of synaptic transmissions, precursor of vital hormones and the most abundant biochemical in our brains.

From the titles of the articles and books I have written, I can understand the concern that I may be anti-statin. Nothing could be further from the truth. Statins' anti-inflammatory action is the most effective treatment there is for atherosclerosis and lowering of cardiovascular risk in high risk individuals.

I am increasingly though a proponent of low, anti-inflammatory dosing of statins not the current cholesterol lowering dosing now that cholesterol no longer appears to be the villain.

However, it must be noted that my personal side effects from statins came from doses that would today be considered low.
 

My own experience with the statin drug Lipitor is covered in detail in my book and summarized in the article Lipitor Thief of Memory.

My personal introduction to the incredible world of transient global amnesia (TGA) occurred six weeks after Lipitor was started during my annual astronaut physical at Johnson Space Center. My cholesterol had been trending upwards for several years.

All was well until six weeks later, when my wife found me walking aimlessly about the yard after I returned from my usual walk in the woods. I "awoke" six hours later in the office of the examining Neurologist with a diagnosis of transient global amnesia, cause unknown. 

My Statin Story was updated in November 2008 to sadly report my continued decline in physical health.

Duane Graveline MD MPH
Former USAF Flight Surgeon
Former NASA Astronaut
Retired Family Doctor

 

From US Air Force Flight Surgeon to NASA flight controller for the Mercury and Gemini program and on to selection as one of NASA's six Scientist Astronauts in 1965.

23 years as a Physician in Family Practice followed and then M.D. locum tenens in Virginia until retirement from medical practice in 1994 at the age of 63.

Returned to NASA from 2003 to 2005 as a consultant specializing in the effects of cosmic radiation.

Now retired and studying and writing on the effects of statin drugs.

Duane Graveline MD MPH Biography

It is with considerable self-satisfaction that I summarize for you where medical opinion, media attention and even drug company trials are now taking us on the subject of cholesterol, statins and cardiovascular disease causation.

A well-known cardiologist now admits that cholesterol causation is like religion to some but the story is turning out to be far more complex than everyone had supposed.

An internist asks why it is that people with low cholesterol still have heart attacks. Others specialists ask why it is that statins work even when cholesterol levels remain unchanged?

Other specialists closely involved with the Enhance study, which compared Vytorin with Zocor, still wonder why the excess cholesterol lowering resulting from Vytorin use with its added Zetia did not translate into plaque protection?

A group of other specialists that had their hearts set on an HDL lowering drug now doubt the relevance of HDL.

Read the full article here

Earlier this year I wrote an article about Statins, Mitochondria, Chronic Disease and Aging. My research has led to a whole new section, not on statins, but on aging.

It is strange that the information which has led me to this aging research has been my last 8 years studying the side effects of statin drug use.

It should be of interest to most that statins appear to exert their harm on susceptible people by what amounts to causing premature aging. It occurs because of the progressive loss of the ability of our mitochondria to produce high-energy molecules (ATP) for cell function. This is a novel concept which now seems to be the correct one.

We have learned that progressive damage to our mitochondria results from exposure to the so-called free radicals. These highly reactive chemicals inevitably lead to modifications of mitochondrial lipids, proteins and DNA, known as mutations, and are a consequence of natural aging.

Read more in Aging and Mitochondrial Mutations

 

There is no longer any doubt as to the vital role of the polyunsaturated fatty acid Omega 3 in reducing cardiovascular disease risk.

Not only has it been firmly documented to stabilize the myocardium electrically, resulting in reduced ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death but also it has been found to have potent anti-inflammatory effects quite comparable to those of the statin drugs.

Omega 3's are fatty acids that our bodies derive from food. Studies have discovered that omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect due to their ability to convert into anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.

In addition, omega-3 fatty acids can decrease the production of inflammatory prostaglandins by omega 6, resulting in a greater decrease in inflammation.

Read more in the article on Aging and Omega 3

Duane Graveline MD MPH
Former USAF Flight Surgeon
Former NASA Astronaut
Retired Family Doctor