Statin use is associated with an 80% higher risk of multiple organ failure in severely injured blunt trauma patients

This study was published in the Journal of Trauma 2009 Sep;67(3):476-82; discussion 482-4

Study title and authors:
Preinjury statin use is associated with a higher risk of multiple organ failure after injury: a propensity score adjusted analysis.

Neal MD, Cushieri J, Rosengart MR, Alarcon LH, Moore EE, Maier RV, Minei JP, Billiar TR, Peitzman AB, Sperry JL
Division of General Surgery and Trauma, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19741387

This study sought to determine the relationship between preinjury statin use and outcome in severely injured blunt trauma patients. (Blunt trauma is a usually serious injury caused by a blunt object or collision with a blunt surface, as in a vehicle accident or fall from a building). Data was obtained from 295 blunt injured adults with hemorrhagic shock. Patients aged 55 years and older were analysed.

The study found preinjury statin use was associated with an 80% higher risk of multiple organ failure in severely injured blunt trauma patients.

Men who consume more saturated fat live longer

This study was published in Circulation 1981 Mar;63(3):500-15

 

Study title and authors

Diet and its relation to coronary heart disease and death in three populations.

Gordon T, Kagan A, Garcia-Palmieri M, Kannel WB, Zukel WJ, Tillotson J, Sorlie P, Hjortland M.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7460234

This study investigated the association of diet with heart disease and death rates. The analysis, from three studies, included 16,349 men, ages 45-64 years, who were followed for up to six years and who had no evidence of coronary heart disease at the onset of the studies. The three studies comprised: the Framingham Study (859 men), the Honolulu Heart Study (7,272 men) and the Puerto Rico Heart Health Program (8,218 men).

The analysis found:
(a) In the Framingham study, men who were still alive consumed 13% more fat than the men who died.
(b) In the Framingham study, men who were still alive consumed 10% more saturated fat than the men who died.
(c) In the Honolulu study, men who were still alive consumed 5% more fat than the men who died.
(d) In the Honolulu study, men who were still alive consumed 3% more saturated fat than the men who died.
(e) In the Puerto Rico study, men who were still alive consumed 13% more fat than the men who died.
(f) In the Puerto Rico study, men who were still alive consumed 12% more saturated fat than the men who died. 

How statins adversely affect the immune system

This study was published in Cellular Immunology 2003 May;223(1):52-62

 

Study title and authors:

Lovastatin inhibits bone marrow-derived dendritic cell maturation and upregulates proinflammatory cytokine production.

Sun D, Fernandes G.

Department of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12914758

In a laboratory setting, this study investigated the effects of lovastatin on the maturation and functional changes of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells. (Dendritic cells act as messengers between the innate and the adaptive immune systems).

The study found:
(a) Lovastatin inhibited the maturation of dendritic cells in a dose-dependent manner.
(b)  Lovastatin up-regulated dendritic cells pro-inflammatory cytokine production. (A proinflammatory cytokine is a cytokine (a small protein involved in cell signalling) which promotes systemic inflammation. Due to their proinflammatory action, they tend to make a disease worse by producing fever, inflammation, tissue destruction, and, in some cases, even shock and death).
(c) When mevalonate was added, these adverse effects were prevented. (Mevalonate is inhibited by statins).

Sun concludes: "These results indicate that lovastatin may inhibit bone marrow-derived dendritic cells maturation and up-regulate cytokine production through a mevalonate dependent pathway, and may cause adverse effects on either innate or adaptive immunity".

High fat diets reduce the risk of gallstones by 91% compared with low fat diets

This study was published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2013 Dec 7

 

Study title and authors:

Ursodeoxycholic Acid and High-fat Diets Prevent Gallbladder Stones During Weight Loss: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Stokes CS¹, Gluud LL, Casper M, Lammert F.

Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Germany.

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24321208

This paper is a systematic review of the efficacy of strategies to prevent gallbladder stones in adults as they lose weight. The analysis included 13 trials, comprising 1,837 participants undergoing weight loss through dieting (eight trials) or bariatric surgery (five trials).

Regarding high fat and low fat diets, the study found that diets high in fat content reduced gallstones by 91%, compared with those with low fat content.