THE LATEST RESEARCH Is It Time to Quit Your Statin? S
ince their introduction 25 years ago, statins have become among the world’s most popular drugs. But now
their safety record is under scrutiny, and many experts say it is time to rethink the wisdom of giving statins to millions of people who don’t have heart disease. The FDA recently
slapped a warning label on statins, cautioning they may cause diabetes, a wide range of muscle disorders, and cognitive problems, like memory loss and confusion. While those warnings sound ominous, the FDA is actually
downplaying the dangers, says top cardiologist Eric Topol, M.D., chief academic officer at the Scripps Research Institute. “When you look at the statistic that 20 million Americans take statins, we could be looking at 100,000 cases of statin- induced diabetes,” Dr. Topol tells Newsmax. Even then, the risk might be justified if the drugs actually prevented people from getting heart disease, but studies show a protective effect in only about 2 people out of 100, he says. Those with heart disease
should continue taking statin medications.
But others should consider
quitting the drugs or switching to a lower dose, according to Topol.
NEW ARTHRITIS TEST PROVIDES EARLIER DIAGNOSIS
M
ore than 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common form of
arthritis, but doctors haven’t been able to get an accurate diagnosis until symptoms appear. Once joint pain and stiffness become evident, it is often too late for preventive and minimally invasive treatment options to be effective. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri’s Comparative Orthopaedic Laboratory have developed a test using specific biomarkers that can accurately determine if a patient is developing arthritis. It can also predict the disease’s potential severity. The test can be run using a single drop of fluid from a patient’s joint, which is obtained with a very small needle. Doctors hope that in addition to predicting the future onset of arthritis and allowing doctors to monitor treatments for effectiveness and the ability to fine-tune medications, early warning will also give patients incentives to make lifestyle changes that would slow progression of the disease.
SEXUAL HEALTH: JUICE BOOST Forget the little blue pill: Pomegranate
juice is a natural aphrodisiac that gives your sex life a boost, according to a new study. Scottish researchers found that drinking a glass of pomegranate juice each day for two weeks caused a surge in testosterone, the hormone that increases sexual desire in both men and women. Levels were boosted by up to 30 percent among the volunteers who were between the ages of 21 and 64. In addition, researchers said that pomegranate juice seemed to improve overall mood and lowered blood pressure.
LUNG CANCER: ASPIRIN HELPS Aspirin may protect against lung cancer,
even in smokers. A Chinese study of more than 1,200 women, published in Lung Cancer, found that women who took aspirin regularly — at least twice a week for a month or longer — reduced the risk of lung cancer by at least 50 percent. The longer women used aspirin, the lower their risk. Smokers may benefit the most: Aspirin reduced their risk of lung cancer by 62 percent.
OBESITY: JUST SAY NUTS Although dieters often shun nuts because of their high fat content, eating a few nuts each day can actually help you fight fat. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that people who ate tree nuts, including almonds, cashews, and pistachios, on a regular basis had a lower body weight (by more than four pounds), smaller waist circumference (about an inch smaller), and a lower body mass index (BMI) than those who didn’t eat nuts. The scientists also found that nuts lowered four risk factors for metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high fasting glucose (blood sugar) levels, and low high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol levels.
EYE CARE: DHA PROTECTS SIGHT Fatty acids found in fish protect against
age-related vision loss, according to new research. A study at the University of Alberta found that a particular omega-3 fatty acid in fish — known as DHA — prevents age-related vision loss. “This discovery could result in a very broad therapeutic use,” said Yves Sauve, who led the study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.
AUGUST 2012 | NEWSMAX MAXLIFE 87
STETHOSCOPE, ALMONDS/ISTOCKPHOTO / PATIENT/PHANIE/SUPERSTOCK
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