RxPG News : Anticholesterol

Statins can provide some protection against dementia

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PST

Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins have a profound effect on an elite group of cells important to brain health as we age, scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have found. The new findings shed light on a long-debated potential role for statins in the area of dementia.

Study: highly involved patients don't always see better health outcomes

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

Patients who prefer to be highly involved in their treatment don't necessarily have better luck managing chronic health conditions, a new study suggests.

Intensive blood sugar treatment in trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease changed

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:40:00 PST

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has stopped one treatment within a large, ongoing North American clinical trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease 18 months early due to safety concerns after review of available data, although the study will continue.

Role of a key enzyme in reducing heart disease identified

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have identified the role of a key enzyme called CEH in reducing heart disease, paving the way for new target therapies to reduce plaques in the arteries and perhaps in the future, help predict a patient�s susceptibility to heart disease.

Cholesterol metabolism links early- and late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Oct. 4, 2007 -- Although the causes of Alzheimer's disease are not completely understood, amyloid-beta (A-beta) is widely considered a likely culprit � the sticky protein clumps into plaques thought to harm brain cells.

Low maternal cholesterol tied to premature birth

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Pregnant women who have very low cholesterol may face a greater risk of delivering their babies prematurely than women with more moderate cholesterol levels, a team led by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), reported today.

Treating obstructive sleep apnea, preventing heart attacks and strokes

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers in Brazil have found that treating patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) dramatically reduces early indications of atherosclerosis in just months, linking OSA directly to the hardening or narrowing of the arteries. Until now, no study has demonstrated such a direct relationship between the two.

'Bad carbs' not the enemy, University of Virginia professor finds

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

The latest common wisdom on carbohydrates claims that eating so-called �bad� carbohydrates will make you fat, but University of Virginia professor Glenn Gaesser says, �that�s just nonsense.� Eating sandwiches with white bread, or an occasional doughnut, isn't going to kill you, or necessarily even lead to obesity, he said.

Metabolic study in mice could lead to 'good cholesterol' boosters

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers have identified a new player in the control of so-called good cholesterol that circulates in the bloodstream and reduces heart attack risk, according to a report in the August issue of Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press. Should the metabolic pathway uncovered in mice operate similarly in humans, the new discovery could point the way to therapies that protect against heart disease by boosting concentrations of the beneficial high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

Older is better -- Top-10 comparison of diabetes drugs give metformin top grade

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A type 2 diabetes drug taken orally and in widespread use for more than a decade has been found to have distinct advantages over nine other, mostly newer medications used to control the chronic disease, according to a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins.

Bak protein sets stressed cells on suicide path, researchers show

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

When a cell is seriously stressed, say by a heart attack, stroke or cancer, a protein called Bak just may set it up for suicide, researchers have found.

Insulin sensitizer also serves as energy-conserving signal to the brain

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A fat-derived protein known for its effects on the liver and skeletal muscle might also serve as an energy-conserving signal to the brain during periods of starvation, suggests a new study in the July issue of Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press. The substance, known as adiponectin, acts on the brain to boost appetite and slow energy expenditure in an effort to maintain adequate fat stores during lean times, the researchers report.

New heart disease risk score will help minimize health inequalities

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new score for predicting the risk of heart disease gives a more accurate measure of how many UK adults are at risk of developing the disease and which adults are most likely to benefit from treatment.

Protein's role in lipid absorption may be important to future weight-loss strategies

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

July 5, 2007 -- Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that a protein absorbs lipids in the upper part of the intestine, and they believe its key role in this process may provide a novel approach for obesity treatment in the future.

Weight management program cuts diabetes risk, improves BMI in overweight children

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

A family-based weight management program developed by researchers at Yale School of Medicine was more effective at reducing weight, body fat, body mass index (BMI) and insulin sensitivity than traditional clinic-based weight counseling.

Diachrome improves blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:00:00 PST

Nutrition 21, Inc. today announced new published results from a 447 subject, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study that showed Diachrome, a patented combination of chromium picolinate and biotin, significantly improved glycemic control in patients with poorly controlled blood sugar levels who were being treated with oral anti-diabetic medication (OADs). Patients in the treatment group showed significant improvements in glycemic control (A1C) compared with placebo (an absolute decrease of 0.54%). The greatest improvement was seen in those patients with the poorest glycemic control (baseline A1C levels equal to or greater than 10%). These patients saw an additional absolute A1C decrease of 1.76% despite the fact that they were taking one or more OAD medications.

Exercise may slightly boost 'good' cholesterol levels

Mon, 28 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Regular exercise appears to modestly increase levels of high-density lipoprotein, or good, cholesterol, according to a meta-analysis study in the May 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors when discontinuing hormone replacement therapy

Tue, 15 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been shown to reduce many cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, but many women have stopped using HRT due to reports from the Womens Health Initiative that HRT may increase the risk of breast cancer and heart disease. In a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health examined whether the increased CVD risk from stopping HRT could be minimized by lifestyle change intervention.

Employee health program improves blood pressure, diabetes control

Thu, 10 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

WASHINGTON, May 10 Employees who participated in a worksite health program improved blood pressure control by 9 percent and diabetes control by 15 percent, researchers reported at the American Heart Association's 8th Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.

MU researchers find statin drugs also may help reduce risk of heart failure, sudden cardiac death

Tue, 01 May 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Statin drugs, known primarily for their ability to lower cholesterol, also may reduce the overactive sympathetic nervous system response that contributes to the worsening of heart failure and increases the risk of sudden cardiac death, two University of Missouri-Columbia researchers have found. Heart failure is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.

Higher trans fat levels in blood associated with elevated risk of heart disease

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST

Boston, MA -- High consumption of trans fat, found mainly in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils and widely used by the food industry, has been linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). New York and Philadelphia have passed measures eliminating its use in restaurants, and other cities are considering similar bans. A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) provides the strongest association to date between trans fat and heart disease. It found that women in the U.S. with the highest levels of trans fat in their blood had three times the risk of CHD as those with the lowest levels. The study was published online on March 26, 2007, and will appear in the April 10, 2007 print issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

Infusion with reconstituted HDL may have some benefit for atherosclerosis

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST

Preliminary research suggests that use of reconstituted HDL may have some benefit in coronary atherosclerosis, according to a JAMA study published online March 26. The study is being released early to coincide with its presentation at the American College of Cardiology's annual conference.

Single genetic defect causes early heart disease

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:00:00 PST

A team of researchers from the United States and Iran has identified a genetic mutation that causes early onset coronary artery disease in members of a large Iranian family. The genetic mutation leads to heart disease by causing high blood pressure, high blood levels of bad cholesterol and diabetes, all risk factors for heart disease. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death worldwide.

Pharmacist-driven outreach lowers metabolic syndrome rates

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 28 -- Adults who met with pharmacists or pharmacy students during a community outreach and screening project about metabolic syndrome, returned four months later with lower risk factors for heart disease, researchers reported today at the American Heart Associations 47th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention.

Garlic does not appear to lower cholesterol levels

Mon, 26 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST

Three forms of garlicincluding raw garlic and two types of commercial garlic supplementsdid not significantly reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL or bad) cholesterol during a six-month trial, according to results published in the February 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Statin users risk heart attacks by dropping treatment or taking low doses

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST

Thousands of statin users worldwide are suffering preventable heart attacks, simply because they are not complying with their treatment or are taking too low a dose, according to new research published on-line (Thursday 7 December) in European Heart Journal[1].

ILLUMINATE study: Pfizer Stops All Torcetrapib Clinical Trials

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 17:48:26 PST

FDA was notified that Pfizer will suspend a large, Phase 3 trial evaluating the investigational cardiovascular therapy torceptrapib/atorvastatin (T/A) due to an increased rate of mortality (death) in patients receiving the combination compared to those receiving atorvastatin alone. With the T/A development program, as it does with all such development programs, FDA assured that Pfizer had the appropriate protections in place for patients participating in the drug’s development, including informed consent, a Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) for its outcome study, and that the development program was done in a careful, stepwise manner.

Weight cycling associated with increased risk for gallstones among men

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST

Intentionally losing weight and then regaining it may increase mens risk for gallstones later in life, according to a report in the November 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

A little TLC goes a long way toward reducing high cholesterol

Thu, 24 Aug 2006 04:00:00 PST

If you're one of the nearly 65 million Americans with high blood cholesterol, National Cholesterol Education Month (September) is a perfect time to read a new publication designed to help you make the lifestyle changes needed to reduce cholesterol and, with it, your risk for heart disease.

Aggressive reduction in cholesterol levels can reduce risk for stroke by 16 percent

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 04:00:00 PST

NORTH CHICAGO, ILL. (August 10, 2006) According to data from the National Stroke Association, up to 40 percent of patients who have had a stroke will experience a second stroke within five years of the first. An international team of researchers recently completed a study to determine if the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor® (atorvastatin calcium) would reduce the occurrence of a second stroke. The Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction of Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) team of investigators, led by Dr. K. Michael Welch, neurologist and President and CEO of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, published their research in today's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Study indicates widely-used nutritional supplement does not improve cholesterol levels

Tue, 16 May 2006 04:00:00 PST

Policosanol is a natural substance produced from the waxy coating of sugar cane. Cuban sugar cane policosanol is sold in more than 40 countries mainly because of its supposed lipid-lowering effects, according to background information in the article. Numerous policosanol products from a variety of sources (sugar cane, wheat germ, rice bran, beeswax) are available over-the-counter and on the Internet in several countries. Advertising emphasizes predominantly its reputed lipid-lowering effects, comparable with statins (prescription medications taken to lower cholesterol). Most of the published scientific literature, more than 80 trials, supporting the beneficial effects of policosanol on lipids has been authored by a single research group from Cuba. One clinical trial from the Netherlands showed wheat germderived policosanol ineffective in lowering total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), sometimes called bad cholesterol.

Markers of PCOS inherited, persist and raise risk for heart disease, diabetes

Mon, 17 Apr 2006 04:00:00 PST

That finding is reported in a new study published April 17 in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (

New research finds direct link between high cholesterol and prostate cancer

Tue, 11 Apr 2006 04:00:00 PST

A possible association has been suggested before but evidence has been limited. This new study, published on-line (Wednesday 12 April) in Annals of Oncology[1] shows a statistically significant direct relationship between the two conditions.

Einstein researchers identify genetic variants that lend clues to living longer

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 04:00:00 PST

The researchers looked for genetic clues to longevity in a group of 214 Ashkenazi Jews who have passed or nearly reached 100 years of age. In the April 4 issue of PLoS Biology, they report that a specific genetic profile, or genotype, was associated with longevity as well as cardiovascular health, lower incidence of hypertension and healthy insulin metabolism.

New Torcetrapib/Atorvastatin Research Further Supports Raising "Good" HDL Cholesterol

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 17:58:45 PST

Pfizer said today that new data, involving its medicine in development torcetrapib/atorvastatin, provides important information on the benefit of raising HDL, or "good" cholesterol, while simultaneously lowering LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. These new findings may play a critical role in reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease and potentially improving quality of life for patients.

Medication reduces risk of adverse events for patients with acute coronary syndromes undergoing PCI

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 05:00:00 PST

NonST-segment elevation (a certain pattern on an electrocardiogram) acute coronary syndromes (ACS - a spectrum of conditions involving chest discomfort or other symptoms) are associated with an increased risk of death and are a major reason for hospital admissions. Although percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs - procedures such as angioplasty or stent placement used to open narrowed coronary arteries) are an established therapeutic approach in high-risk patients presenting with ACS, it is still unclear what the best adjunctive antithrombotic therapies are, according to background information in the article. There is increasing evidence that treatment with clopidogrel prior to PCI prevents postprocedural ischemic complications. It is not known whether the antiplatelet effect provided by 600 mg of clopidogrel eliminates the need for more potent antiplatelet therapies in patients with ACS undergoing PCI.

Use of statins can improve erectile performance in some

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 01:10:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine say preliminary results of a small study show promise in improving erectile dysfunction (ED) in men who had shown minimal reaction to Viagra. The study results are published in the March issue of the "Journal of Sexual Medicine."

Gap widens between optimal versus actual cholesterol levels

Fri, 03 Feb 2006 05:00:00 PST

Of that group, 38 million are people with health conditions that put them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Key heart and Alzheimer's disease protein imaged for first time in native state

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 05:00:00 PST

Using the technique known as x-ray crystallography, scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (GICD) have created the highest-resolution x-ray structure of a lipoprotein particle to date.

Why some cholesterol-lowering drugs cause hot flashes

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 16:04:00 PST

In a study appearing in the December 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Stefan Offermanns and colleagues from the University of Heidelberg use various mouse models to show why the cholesterol-lowering agent nicotinic acid also commonly causes flushing or "hot flashes" that, although harmless, often prompts patients to discontinue therapy. The authors found that activation of the nicotinic acid receptor GPR109A by nicotinic acid can produce different responses dependent on the location of this receptor in the body.

Poor fitness common in teens and adults, with associated rise in cardiovascular disease risk factors

Tue, 20 Dec 2005 05:00:00 PST

There is strong and consistent evidence from observational studies that physical inactivity and poor cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., fitness) are associated with higher illness and death from all causes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer, according to background information in the article. United States population reports describe an increasingly less physically active society, with marked downturns in reported physical activity during adolescence and young adulthood. Prior to the current National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), data were not available to quantify objectively determined cardiorespiratory fitness in the U.S. population. The extent to which physical inactivity affects the risk of heart disease through its negative impact on cardiorespiratory fitness, which is associated with a high prevalence of other CVD risk factors, is not known at the population level.

Cholesterol levels and use of statins are not associated with breast cancer risk

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 05:14:00 PST

Cholesterol levels and use of statins or other lipid-lowering drugs are not associated with breast cancer risk, according to a study in the October 24 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Statins can prevent heart attacks and strokes even in those with low cholesterol

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 07:33:00 PST

University of Sydney combined detailed results from more than 90,000 participants in 14 previously completed trials involving statin treatments. It shows that many people with lower cholesterol levels could benefit from statin treatment.

Statins use associated with 36% reduced risk of fractures

Tue, 27 Sep 2005 06:51:00 PST

In a large study of elderly, predominately male veterans, statin use was associated with a 36 percent reduction in risk of fracture when compared with no lipid-lowering therapy, according to a study in the September 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Cholesterol-lowering statin therapy may improve survival

Sat, 23 Jul 2005 01:07:00 PST

Cholesterol-lowering statin therapy may improve survival in patients with diastolic heart failure (DHF) according to a paper published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association by cardiologists at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

FDA Gives Final Approval to Fenofibrate Tablets

Thu, 19 May 2005 09:24:00 PST

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Nasdaq: TEVA) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted final approval for the Company's ANDA for Fenofibrate Tablets, 54 mg and 160 mg.

Cholesterol-Lowering Agents May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

Tue, 17 May 2005 01:54:00 PST

A new study shows that statins drugs widely used to lower cholesterol levels may reduce breast cancer risk by more than half.

Niaspan(R) Approved as a Lipid Metabolism Regulator to Raise the "Good" Cholesterol Levels

Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:03:00 PST

Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:KOSP) announced today that, through its Canadian development and commercialization partner, Oryx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Oryx), regulatory clearance from Health Canada was granted to market all three doses of Kos' Niaspan(R) product (niacin extended-release tablets) in Canada.

Class Effect of Statins in Elderly Patients

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:55:00 PST

Evidence has shown that the use of statins after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is effective in reducing the incidence of both fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events. Since they belong to the same drug class, they are generally thought to be therapeutically equivalent.

Statin simvastatin linked to protection against endothelial dysfunction in diabetic rats

Sun, 03 Apr 2005 10:33:00 PST

Almost two years ago, the diabetes arm of the Heart Protection Study, the largest-ever study using a cholesterol-lowering medication, found that diabetics who took a daily dose of the statin drug simvastatin over five years reduced the risk of a first nonlethal heart attack by 37 percent and risk of a first nonfatal or fatal stroke by 24 percent, regardless of their cholesterol or glucose levels. That is significant, since people with diabetes are two to four times more likely than others to have a coronary event even though their low-density lipid (LDL) cholesterol levels are similar to those in the general population.

Study pinpoints protein inhibitor that raises HDL levels

Fri, 09 Apr 2004 17:54:49 PST

An important clinical advance in the prevention of heart disease has been identified by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in collaboration with researchers at Tufts University and Pfizer. The study led by Daniel Rader, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Penn's Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine & Lipid Center, involved a novel pharmacologic approach – inhibition of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) – and showed that this approach is highly effective in raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in patients with low levels.