LDL: how low to go?In a study of 500 heart disease patients, ultrasound showed less artery clogging in those who took a stronger statin drug (80 mg a day of Lipitor) than in those who took a weaker statin stat·in n. Any of a class of drugs that inhibit a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol and promote receptor binding of LDL cholesterol, resulting in decreased levels of serum cholesterol. (40 mg a day of Pravachol). The Lipitor knocked LDL LDL - ["LDL: A Logic-Based Data-Language", S. Tsur et al, Proc VLDB 1986, Kyoto Japan, Aug 1986, pp.33-41]. ("bad") cholesterol down to 79 milligrams per deciliter deciliter /dec·i·li·ter/ (dL) (des´i-le?ter) one tenth (10minus;1) of a liter; 100 milliliters. Deciliter (dL) 100 cubic centimeters (cc). Mentioned in: Hypercholesterolemia of blood (mg/dL), while the Pravachol takers' LDL averaged 110 mg/dL. C-reactive protein (CRP C-reactive protein (CRP) A protein present in blood serum in various abnormal states, like inflammation. Mentioned in: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease CRP, n.pr See C-reactive protein. ), a sign of low-level inflammation in the body, fell 36 percent in patients taking Lipitor, but only five percent in patients taking Pravachol. People with higher CRP levels have a higher risk of heart disease. What to do" Whether you use diet or drugs to lower your LDL, this study suggests that lower is better. These current classifications for LDL may be too lax: optimal: under 100 near optimal: 100 to 129 borderline high: 130 to 159 high: 160 to 189 very high: 190+ Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal, published 48 times per year by the American Medical Association. JAMA is the most widely circulated medical journal in the world. 291: 1071, 1132, 2004. |
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