VA RESEARCH SHOWS USE OF STATINS REDUCES THE RISK OF MANY

FORMS OF CANCER -- STATINS CLOSE TO BEING CONSIDERED

A WONDER DRUG

Millions of people take statins to reduce cholesterol.

But, new research shows statins can reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes and even many forms of cancer.

Story here... http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/13515727.htm

This story is long and involved, but well worth reading.  Here is the section on VA research:  The most impressive population research involves a series of retrospective studies on half a million veterans conducted by Dr. Vikas Khurana of the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport, La. Men who took statins for up to four years had about 50 percent fewer cancers of the lung, prostate, pancreas and esophagus. For those taking statins longer, the reduction was much greater, he said.

Looking at nearly 40,000 female veterans, Khurana found that those taking statins had approximately 50 percent fewer breast cancers. The studies attempted to rule out other factors such as cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, income and physical activity.

More from the article:  Not since aspirin has a class of drugs come along that does so much more than originally intended that it could end up being used as a preventive against many major diseases.

Statins, which lower cholesterol, have been proved in clinical trials to reduce heart attacks and strokes by 30 to 50 percent. They are the most widely prescribed drugs in the United States; one in 10 adults takes them.

But their full value in improving the nation's health rests with research attempting to establish the ability of statins to prevent cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, high blood pressure, multiple sclerosis and macular degeneration.

Already, observational studies suggest that people who take statins are at lower risk of developing those illnesses. Researchers are exploring why the drugs might have such a broad protective effect and are finding that the drugs may affect critical systems of the body in ways that head off disease.

Larry Scott

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