A high intake of saturated fat may have protective effects in people with established coronary artery disease

This study was published in the Journal of Nutrition 2015 Feb;145(2):299-305

Study title and authors:
Dietary intake of saturated fat is not associated with risk of coronary events or mortality in patients with established coronary artery disease.

Puaschitz NG, Strand E, Norekvål TM, Dierkes J, Dahl L, Svingen GF, Assmus J, Schartum-Hansen H, Øyen J, Pedersen EK, Drevon CA, Tell GS, Nygård O.
Departments of Heart Disease Departments of Clinical Science nathalie.genevieve.puaschitz@helse-bergen.no.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25644351

This study investigated the associations between saturated fat intake and risk of subsequent coronary events and mortality in patients with established coronary artery disease. The study included 2,412 patients, average age 61.7 years, who were followed for 4.8 years.

The study found
(a) Patients who consumed the most saturated fat were 10.4% less likely to take statin drugs than patients who consumed the least saturated fat.
(b) Patients who consumed the most saturated fat had a 15% reduced risk of unstable angina pectoris, nonfatal acute heart attack and coronary death compared to patients who consumed the least saturated fat.

Puaschitz comments that: "A high intake of  saturated fat may have protective effects" and "When current prevention guidelines aim to limit the saturated fat intake to below 7–10% of energy, one can speculate whether this is appropriate in patients with coronary artery disease".

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics say that cholesterol and saturated fat do not cause heart disease

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) recently released the new draft dietary guidelines for Americans.

A press release from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics commented on the draft guidelines. The release contained the following:

(a) The Academy supports the DGAC in its decision to drop dietary cholesterol from the nutrients of concern list and recommends it deemphasize saturated fat from nutrients of concern, given the lack of evidence connecting it with cardiovascular disease.
(b) Low sodium intake levels recommended by the DGAC are actually associated with increased mortality for healthy individuals.
(c) The evidence is strongest that a reduction in the intake of added sugars will improve the health of the American public.

I'm glad the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics are at last coming around to my way of thinking.

Statins users with existing coronary artery disease have a 15% increased risk of another heart attack

This study was published in Circulation Journal 2004 Jan;68(1):47-52

Study title and authors:
Insulin resistance and fasting hyperinsulinemia are risk factors for new cardiovascular events in patients with prior coronary artery disease and normal glucose tolerance.

Yanase M, Takatsu F, Tagawa T, Kato T, Arai K, Koyasu M, Horibe H, Nomoto S, Takemoto K, Shimizu S, Watarai M.
Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Aichi, Japan. yanase@kosei.anjo.aichi.jp

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14695465

This study investigated risk factors for further cardiovascular event in patients with existing coronary artery disease. The study lasted three years and included 102 patients with coronary artery disease.

Regarding statins, the study found that patients who took statins had a 15% increased risk of a further cardiovascular event than patients who did not take statins.

Statins and nasal polyps

This paper was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine 2005 Feb 15;142(4):310-1

Study title and authors:
Statins and nasal polyps.

Bucca C, Marsico A, Panaro E, Bigo P, Brussino L.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15710970

This paper describes the case of a woman who developed nasal polyps (warty growths) after taking statins.

(i) A 57 year old woman with rhinosinusitis (rhinosinusitis is inflammation of the nasal passage and sinuses) and asthma sought medical attention for the recent onset of rhinosinusitis associated with asthma.
(ii) With treatment the patients condition nearly normalised.
(iii) She started to take atorvastatin.
(iv) One month later the patient returned because of severe persistent nasal obstruction with extensive polyp growth.
(v) Tests found she had abnormally high amounts of eosinophil's (white blood cells) and her sinuses were completely stuffed with polyps.
(vi) The polyps were removed, but returned within one month of surgery.
(vii) She stopped taking atorvastatin and within three weeks her condition had dramatically improved with her nasal polyps disappearing.
(viii) She restarted atorvastatin and her nasal symptoms and polyps returned shortly afterwards, together with nasal eosinophilia.
(ix) The patient improved after again stopping atorvastatin.
(x) She later started to take simvastatin and again the polyps recurred.

Bucca concluded: "Statins may lead to development of eosinophilic polypoid rhinosinusitis"