Cholesterol and diet

Cholesterol levels can be a real wakeup call for many people. The first time those results come back, it can snap people into making a change, but it may not always be the right change. Some people tackle the diet to see what progress they can make on their own. Others prefer medication to control their cholesterol – these are known as statins. No matter which category you fall into, the Journal of Internal Medicine has released a new study that shines new light on the value of diet whether or not statins are for you.

This study was designed to look at diet trends between people that choose statins versus those that do not. The sample size for this study was almost 28,000 people over a ten year period. What was found was interesting. In the beginning of the study, around 1999, there was a dramatic difference between statin users and non-statin users. Statin users had significantly lower caloric intakes than those that did not take statin medications. However, over time, that gap closed fast. By 2005, there was no gap at all. Both groups had the same dietary make up. By the end of the study, 2010, both caloric and fat intake had increased in statin users and their BMI increased more than double that of non-statin users.

What this study shows is that those who choose statin help to maintain their cholesterol levels are less inclined to maintain a healthy diet over a long period of time. This leads me to believe that it is vital for those who are suffering from high cholesterol levels to consider, first, trying to control their diet and move to statins if that is not enough. Even if people do choose to take statins, that does not mean there should be any less emphasis on diets. Statins are just one more tool to help with high cholesterol. Like any other medication, it is not a magic pill. There is never a replacement for a healthy diet.