Hot Tips, News and Trends for Healthy Aging By Dr. Joel Lopez, M.D.

Cholesterol: Essential For Life

Statins are a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol. It is a synthetic substance and just like any medication, it could cause side effects in people whose detoxification mechanisms are not properly functioning (esp. older folks) or in those who have a genetic predisposition to not metabolize the drug properly. In a recent article on BBC News entitled “Unintended statin side-effect uncovered”, it mentions side effects like liver problems, muscle weakness, cataracts and kidney failure with chronic use of statins. The University of Nottingham researchers were quick to add that the benefits of statins far outweighed the risks for many people, but “the findings would help weigh up the pros and cons in each patient.” My say on this is that we’re all different. A “one-size-fits-all” approach would never, ever, work. What may be helpful for one person may not work for another. There is a concept called “biochemical individuality”, meaning that every one is unique and therefore, should be treated so. Cholesterol by the way, is not all bad. We need cholesterol for healthy cell membranes and it is the parent molecule for sex hormones and adrenal hormones. This is basic science!