Posted on November 13th, 2008 by Craig Maltby, Editor
Taking heart in statins: It all comes down to inflammation
The big news this week is that statins such as Crestor and other prescription brands appear to help lower bad cholesterol in people who already have moderate or eve
n low cholesterol. But that doesn’t necessarily mean their chance of a heart attack is equally lowered. Experts have been saying that while high cholesterol can contribute to a cardiac episode, other factors are in play as well.
One marker of potential heart problems is C-reactive protein. High C-reactive protein levels in the blood can indicate potential for a number of age-related conditions, from coronary heart disease to eye disease, joint problems, diabetes and other chronic problems. What’s the connection? Inflammation. High C-reactive (CRP) levels indicate an inflammatory condition somewhere in the body; arteries, joints, intestinal tracts. Chronic inflammation is a component of many disease states.
So does everyone need to get a CRP test? Not necessarily. As one physician this morning on National Public Radio pointed out, large abdominal girth–belly fat–is almost always associated with high CRP levels. If one can reduce belly fat, CRP levels subside considerably, and the risk for inflammation-associated conditions can decline as well.
What’s this have to do with immune balance? Well, one of the mainstays of a balanced immune system is the reduction of inflammation in the body. Immune cells are not over-reacting, and therefore not driving increased inflammatory responses. Proportionally functioning immune defenses should keep a check on inflammation.
That’s not to say that you can take EpiCor and not worry about a thing. As with any supplementation, overeating, overjunking, overdrinking, overstressing, underexercising can cancel out benefits.
