Vitamin pills linked to bad cholesterol

[FContact]

Vitamin pills linked to bad cholesterol

United Press International

Tuesday, May 4, 2004


NEW YORK, May 04, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A study at New York University has opened the possibility that antioxidant vitamins could increase the body's production of bad LDL cholesterol.

The notion that antioxidant vitamins such as C, E, and beta carotene provide a safe, convenient way to protect the heart from disease could be fallible, based on the study by NYU School of Medicine researcher Dr. Edward Fisher.

Overall, antioxidants usually have been considered healthful. The vitamins scavenge "free radicals," which are highly reactive and damaging forms of oxygen produced by natural metabolic processes in the body and by external sources like the sun's UV rays, ozone, and toxins in pesticides, among other things.

Antioxidants do have beneficial affects on other parts of the body, said Fisher. The molecules, for example, have been shown in some animal studies to protect the arteries from atherosclerosis and the pancreas and other organs from damage caused by diabetes.

"Until more data becomes available, we can't make any recommendations about whether people should not use these vitamins," Fisher said.

The study is published in the May issue of the "Journal of Clinical Investigation."

[liftsiron]

I don't buy it.

[rado]

Me neither....But something isn't right though, why would they publish something like this?

[FContact]

Give me a sec, Cousin Eddie posted a theory.

[FContact]

Posted by Cousin Eddie.

Good find FC

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There is also an article this morning in the NY Times questioning the effectiveness of vitamin supplementation in older people, and calling into question the ethics of the original study being sited. This, coupled with the UPI article FC posted today, cause me to think it is just the beginning of a pharma dollar fueled vitamin bashing campaign.

The NNFA, AHPA, and DSEA are currently lobbying to ease restrictions on structure function claims related to anti-oxidants.(AI's)
Big Pharma is lobbying even harder ($$) to place greater restrictions on label claims and pretty much trash DSHEA in favor of more pharma friendly legislation. It will all come down to who wants to spend the most money, and I think we all know who that will be.

On the NY Times website where the vitamin article I mentioned is posted, there is a huge purple popup ad for the prescription drug Nexium. The ad is literally so big that you have to move it to read the entire article. Coincidence???

Look at the way the UPI presented the article FC referenced. They say that AI's could POSSIBLY cause the body to produce more LDL. OK UPI, well could you please tell me how much more, was it significant? Did HDL go up also, leaving ratios normal? Why did it go up? In response to what? Does the use of the term "POSSIBLY" mean that they arent sure it was the AI's which caused the rise?

They do mention some of the documented health benefits of AI"S, but conveniently leave out the big one - Cancer! Personally, I will take a rise in LDL over Cancer any day of the week! I think both articles were bought and paid for by big pharma?

Gotta go take my anti-oxidants now.

[DADAWG]

i know im the exception and not the rule but im in my 40s at 5-10 in my shoes and in the high 200s weight wise , and have done several cycles and my cholesterol has never been over 150 total . my good cholesterol has been 1 point under the ref range for normal 1 time but thats it .and im a big vitamin taker