Nexus - 1301 - New Times Magazine-pages

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In 1985, two years prior to the introduction of the popular cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, the scientists who were investigating the enzymes that help the body produce cholesterol made an important discovery: vitamin C is a powerful anti- cholesterol agent. The vitamin C molecule inhibits the same enzyme, HMG CoA reductase, that the cholesterol-lowering statin drugs inhibit (see http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/abstract/ 261/16/7127). Individuals using home cholesterol-monitoring devices, such as the LifeStream® monitor (available in 55,000 retail outlets), report that 6,000 mg to 10,000 mg of vitamin C may be required for maximum cholesterol-lowering effect. possibilities with airline pilots who take statins, he has begun a crusade to educate the medical profession and public about the potential danger of cholesterol-lowering drugs. He has written a book, Statin Drugs: Side Effects and the Misguided War on Cholesterol (see the Spacedoc.net website). The Vitamin C Foundation has posted its collection of concerns at http://www.vitamincfoundation.org/statinalert. Individuals using home cholesterol-monitoring devices, such as Chronic Scurvy Verified by CardioRetinometry and the LifeStream® monitor (available in 55,000 retail outlets), Reversed with Vitamin C report that 6,000 mg to 10,000 mg of vitamin C may be required It has long been known that human arteries weaken without for maximum cholesterol-lowering effect. vitamin C and other necessary nutritional support. "Atheromas" or "soft atherosclerotic plaques" are the names given to abnormal Statin Drugs Block Coenzyme Q10 Production and May formations that appear in arteries. Dr Pauling and associates Cause Heart Failure, Leading to Heart Transplants theorised with Willis that such plaque formations serve to The structure of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 or ubiquinone) was strengthen arteries because they appear most often where the determined by the Merck scientist Karl blood pressure is highest. Sometimes a Folkers after its discovery in 1957 (see weak artery ruptures and the resulting clot http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/ causes a heart attack or stroke. This 131/9/2227). There have been at least 35 condition is most properly characterised as clinical studies showing CoQ10's massive In 1985, two years chronic scurvy. Perf ear renee pains prior to the introduction |, tronss in h miso eis in coq1l0supplement.com/). And in Japan, until of the popular doctors, who until recently did not believe avaible by peserpton Oe tre npr Sidney Bush, DOpt ofthe United The drug giant Merck learned during its statin rugs, e Kingdom, accidentally discovered that research into lowering cholesterol that statin A A atheromas can be reversed in those patients drugs block the body's production of its own scientists who were instructed to take from 3,000 mg to 10,000 CoQ10. This blockage of CoQ10 synthesis investigating the mg of vitamin C daily (the amount depend- is a serious action of statins that causes fatigue, muscle pain and skeletal myopathy (a grave deterioration of muscle). Drug advertisements in Canada must carry the CoQ10 statin- depletion warning, but the US FDA does not require these important warn- ings, keeping US medical doctors in the dark and putting their patients at risk (see http://www.naturesperfectstatin. com/warn.htm). Merck has more than one 1990 patent for adding CoQ10 to statins as a means of circumventing the issue of CardioRetinometry® (see web page blocking CoQ10 biosynthesis (US http://www. vitamincfoundation.org/ Patent No. 4,933,165). Their having these patents since 1990 is bush/more.html). He believes this method of diagnosis will revo- proof that members of the Merck Corporation have been aware lutionise cardiology: ing on the effect on the retinal arteries). Dr Bush made his discovery while studying eye infections in contact lens wearers. Vitamin C was being tested as a preventive measure for these infec- tions and, serendipitously, Dr Bush noticed that atheromas disappeared in the patients taking vitamin C. He reported that some patients require as much as 10,000 mg daily to reverse soft atheromas. Dr Bush has invented a new diagnos- tic technique that he calls enzymes that help the body produce cholesterol made an important discovery: vitamin C is a powerful anti-cholesterol agent. that statins cause muscle deterioration. (The Merck patents were "A new diagnostic technique can access coronary heart disease never implemented, probably because the world supply of CoQ10 —_ risk (CHD) suggested by universal retinal arterial atheroma, pre- is far too limited to supply all statin drug users.) viously unsuspected as reversible. Physicians have overlooked, It is sad and truly frightening that today's hottest-selling class of and optometrists/ophthalmologists were not expecting that vita- prescription drugs—cholesterol-lowering statin drugs—is known min C would have this effect. This effect was accidentally found to deplete CoQ10 synthesis, yet these drugs are routinely pre- and linked to the vitamin C that contact lens wearers had agreed scribed to heart patients! to take. We have increasingly noticed it from 1999 using Retinometry in the Hull Contact Lens and Eye Clinic. Such a dis- Transient Global Amnesia: Another Statin Side-Effect? covery requires urgent evaluation." Former NASA astronaut and USAF flight surgeon Duane Dr Bush has also promoted the idea that chronic scurvy not Graveline, MD, believes that the statin drug Lipitor caused his only exists, but can be accurately measured. Eye doctors can now own case of transient global amnesia (TGA)—a statin easily diagnose this condition by examining the microscopic arter- drug-—associated memory dysfunction experienced while flying ies behind the eye before any symptoms of heart disease manifest. (see http://www.spacedoc.net/Statins_flyer.html). Thanks to Dr Bush, we now know that vitamin C will reverse Dr Graveline believes that these drugs are the cause of a recent the condition in short order at the optimal dosage determined by epidemic of TGA to hit emergency rooms and, fearing the dire CardioRetinometry. of the popular cholesterol- lowering a.-a! statin drugs, the ” scientists who were investigating the enzymes that help the body produce cholesterol made an Transient Global Amnesia: Another Statin Side-Effect? Former NASA astronaut and USAF flight surgeon Duane Graveline, MD, believes that the statin drug Lipitor caused his own case of transient global amnesia (TGA)—a statin drug-—associated memory dysfunction experienced while flying (see http://www.spacedoc.net/Statins_flyer.html). Dr Graveline believes that these drugs are the cause of a recent epidemic of TGA to hit emergency rooms and, fearing the dire NEXUS = 41 DECEMBER 2005 — JANUARY 2006 www.nexusmagazine.com