There are many problems associated with the cholesterol theory of cardiovascular disease. However, these are largely ignored by proponents of the theory, many of whom have vested interest in maintaining their monopoly on testing and treating individuals. The statin drugs are an enormous source of revenue for pharmaceutical companies, and they employ an army of agents in powerful positions to defend their interests. Recently, it is becoming common for individuals to be prescribed statin drugs to lower cholesterol plasma levels after a solitary test has been performed. However, this is problematic because cholesterol in the plasma shows large variations over time, suggesting that cholesterol tests may not be representative of true cardiovascular risk. Such fluctuation of plasma cholesterol have been known for many decades from research going back to the 1960’s, and yet such data is not considered when prescribing statin drugs.
For example, in 1963 researchers1 published findings showing a natural variations in plasma cholesterol in healthy men (age 39 to 59) and women (age 40 to 59). Blood tests were used to determine the total cholesterol concentrations of the subjects at various intervals. The mean value in older women was significantly higher in the warmer seasons of the year compared to the cooler seasons. In autumn, the women had cholesterol levels of 267 mg/dL, but this rose to 283 mg/dL in spring, and rose aging to 314 mg/dL in summer. In contrast, the mean total cholesterol level in older men was significantly higher in the late winter and early spring months. In spring, the men had a mean cholesterol level of 279 mg/dL but this decreased to 269 mg/dL and then to 266 mg/dL in summer and autumn, respectively. Women therefore had a 15% variation in total cholesterol levels, whereas men had a 5 % variation.
Many studies have since verified the seasonal variation to cholesterol levels. All biomarkers show natural variation with circadian rhythms, and cholesterol is no exception. In this study, total cholesterol was measured, which would be the sum of all cholesterol carried in all lipoproteins; mainly low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and lipoprotein(a). The 15 % variation in women and the 5 % variation in men is interesting because it suggests that women have a larger seasonal fluctuation than men. This sex-related variation has been confirmed in more recent studies. Findings such as this raise questions about the reliability of cholesterol testing, and when combined with other data highlight the absurdity of the cholesterol theory of cardiovascular disease. However, the truth is that the wheels fell of their cholesterol wagon a long time ago. Only powerful business interests and pseudoscience have kept the cholesterol theory of cardiovascular disease in the mainstream arena.
RdB
