#525: Cholesterol-Lowering Medication – Dr. Paddy Barrett

06/11/24 • 48 min

Cholesterol-lowering medications, particularly statins, play a pivotal role in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) concentrations, which are causal markers in atherosclerosis development. The efficacy of these medications is well-documented, with numerous clinical trials demonstrating substantial benefits in reducing cardiovascular events and improving overall mortality rates.

Despite the robust evidence supporting the benefits of cholesterol-lowering medications, there are various misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding their use. One common myth is that these drugs are unnecessary for those without overt cardiovascular symptoms, ignoring the preventative benefits for at-risk individuals.

Concerns about side effects, such as muscle pain, liver damage, and cognitive impairment, are often exaggerated. While side effects are possible, they are typically mild and manageable. Regular monitoring and adjustments by healthcare providers can help mitigate any adverse effects, ensuring that the benefits of reducing LDL-C and apoB far outweigh the risks.

In this episode, preventative cardiologist Dr. Paddy Barrett discusses the different types of lipid-lowering medications, their mechanisms of action, the side effects that may occur, and the misconceptions about the drugs that are unfortunately widespread.

Timestamps:

00:14 Introduction
03:26 Dr. Barrett’s Background
04:50 What is “Lipid Lowering”?
05:30 Overview of Lipids and Atherosclerosis
09:58 Setting Targets for Lipid Levels
15:52 Medications for Lowering LDL and ApoB
20:12 Statins: Types, Effects, and Side Effects
35:38 Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
42:47 Future of Lipid Lowering Therapies

Links:

Go to episode page
Subscribe to Sigma Nutrition PREMIUM
drpaddybarrett.com
Dr. Barrett’s Substack
Book: Heart. An Owner’s Guide
Receive our free weekly email: the Sigma Synopsis

Timestamps:

00:14 Introduction
03:26 Dr. Barrett’s Background
04:50 What is “Lipid Lowering”?
05:30 Overview of Lipids and Atherosclerosis
09:58 Setting Targets for Lipid Levels
15:52 Medications for Lowering LDL and ApoB
20:12 Statins: Types, Effects, and Side Effects
35:38 Addressing Concerns and Misconceptions
42:47 Future of Lipid Lowering Therapies

Links:

Go to episode page
Subscribe to Sigma Nutrition PREMIUM
drpaddybarrett.com
Dr. Barrett’s Substack
Book: Heart. An Owner’s Guide
Receive our free weekly email: the Sigma Synopsis

Previous Episode

#524: Strength & Fitness Levels for Reducing Chronic Disease Risk & Promoting Health Ageing – Jordan Feigenbaum, MD

When aiming for healthy aging and reducing chronic disease risk over the lifecourse, exercise, specifically a combination of resistance training and cardiorespiratory fitness, has a fundamental role to play. In addition it can mitigate age-related declines and support independence in later years.

A strong evidence base exists showing the benefits of increased strength and cardiorespiratory fitness on a range of important outcomes related to lifespan and healthspan. But some intriguing questions remain, such as:

How strong is strong enough?
At what point do we maximize the benefits of exercise?
How “fit” do we need to be?
Is simple participation enough or do we need a true training adaptation?
How can this actually be implemented in practice so that it is doable?

In this episode, Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum shares his insights on this topic and offers advice on how we can increase our probability of a long healthspan, through exercise interventions.

Links:

Timestamps:

04:40 Dr. Feigenbaum’s Journey and Barbell Medicine’s Mission
05:57 Defining and Achieving Healthy Aging
10:37 The Impact of Exercise on Health and Longevity
28:52 Strength Training: How Much is Enough?
38:43 Muscle Mass vs. Strength: What Matters More for Health?
47:18 The Paradox of Muscle Mass vs. Strength
49:05 Designing an Effective Strength Training Program
01:01:27 Cardiorespiratory Fitness: Importance and Assessment
01:06:19 Optimizing Cardio Training: Intensity and Volume

Next Episode

#526: Eating Rate, Food Texture & Satiation – Marlou Lasschuijt, PhD

Food science and behavior are intimately connected. One critical but often overlooked facet of this connection is food texture and its substantial impact on eating behavior and energy intake.

Food texture encompasses characteristics such as hardness and structure. It categorizes food into liquids, semi-solids, and solids, each with a wide range of textures—from dry and crispy to elastic and more substantial. This classification deeply affects how we consume food. The time it takes to chew and swallow a food item can vary greatly based on its texture.

Different textures can also influence the speed at which satiety signals are triggered. Eating rate is a highly individual trait, stable over time, and consistent across different contexts. Some people are naturally slower eaters, while others consume food quickly. This variance can have significant implications for energy intake and body weight.

In this episode, Dr. Marlou Lasschuijt, an assistant professor in the Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour group at Wageningen University, discusses the above topics and their implications.

Links: