why do statin drugs prevent heart attacks?
With the possible exception of aspirin, statins are the most effective heart-attack prevention drugs available. Statin drugs are simply synthetic, slightly altered versions of the statins produced by certain yeasts, like the lovastatin that occurs naturally in rice fermented by red yeast (Monascus purpureus)which is also the active ingredient in the popular statin drug Mevacor. It has been thought that most of statins anti-CVD benefit derives from their potent cholesterol-lowering powers. But new research suggests that their anti-inflammatory powers may play a larger role than we thought, especially in short-term versus long-term prevention of heart attacks. Cardiologist Mark Nelson, M.D. wrote us recently to take issue with some aspects of our March 4 article about the proposal to turn statins into non-prescription drugs (Does Statins’ SuperStar Status Make Sense?). He found special fault with the following statement in our article: Moreover, the modest reductions in cardiac deaths an
