Jan 15, 2007
Parkinson and statins
New research points to a possible link between the LDL cholesterol-lowering statin drugs (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) and Parkinson’s disease. Such is the concern that a study involving thousands of people is planned to assess the risk, according to a report in Chemistry & Industry today.
Earlier research had hinted at a putative link between Parkinson’s disease and statins, but the latest results from a study linking low LDL cholesterol itself to PD provides the strongest evidence to date that the link could be real.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina say that patients with low LDL cholesterol levels are more than three and a half times as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as those with higher LDL levels.
Study leader Xuemei Huang told C&I: “I am very concerned by these findings, which is why I am planning a 16000-patient prospective study to examine the possible role of statins.” Huang was quick to point out, however, that a causal link with statins had not yet been proven. Huang adds that the well-established link between PD and apoE2, a gene associated with lower LDL cholesterol, supports her theory that low LDL is the culprit in many cases of PD.
Yoav Ben-Shlomo, a professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Bristol suggests a contrary explanation. It could be that low LDL cholesterol levels are a consequence rather than a cause of PD, he says.
Nevertheless, statins have been in common use for more than a decade and Huang worries that if proved right we will see a big surge in the number of diagnoses of PD during the next five years.
Pfizer’s statin Lipitor is the world’s best-selling drug with $12.2 billion in sales in 2005.
Thanks for the links Joseph. Of course, I am aware of ongoing debates about the risk-benefit equation. I just happen not to have covered it in detail here. It would be interesting to read a refutation of Kauffman’s claims, I am sure at least one reader will have one!
db
Parkinson’s is just the tip of the iceberg. Even a cursory search reveal far more critical information. Surprised how unfamiliar a science writer might be with such profoundly troubling issues, especially considering statin’s standing as the most prescribed drug in the history of medicine.
Statin Drugs – A Critical Review of the Risk/Benefit Clinical Research Joel M. Kauffman, Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry Emeritus
Here are Joel M. Kauffman’s credentials, research interests, and list of scientific publications.
Anyone care to refute his opinion in an informed manner based in fundamental biochemistry (some of which anon has already addressed?)
The Synthesis of Cholesterol
madleyn levy, fair enough he was a NASA surgeon and has apparently suffered from his own use of prescribed statins. That still doesn’t stop his site “looking” like nothing much more than an advertisement for his book, regardless of his qualifications or experience. I will, however, obtain a copy and may discuss the issues he raises here at a later date.
Incidentally, why post as “anonymous” and then leave an email address that is all over the web showing your real name?
db
It helps to read a site prior to criticizing the author. duane graveline is an MD as well as a NASA trained astronaut. He practiced family medicine as well as space related medicine. and your qualifications????
Interesting find “anonymous”, I looked up the reference from Drug Safety you cite and quote from the authors’ conclusion, which you did not include in your comment:
“CONCLUSION: We emphasise the rarity of this possible association, and also the need for further study to establish whether a causal relationship exists.”
The authors add that, “We do advocate that trial discontinuation of a statin should be considered in patients with serious neuromuscular disease such as the ALS-like syndrome, given the poor prognosis and a possibility that progression of the disease may be halted or even reversed.”