The hype about statin drugs to reduce cholesterol is increasing by the day. In statin drugs and side effects, we will learn about the best selling and most profitable drugs ever created.
Study reveals the dangers of statin Drugs
A new study has been published revealing that statins do NOT decrease atherosclerosis and that the drugs may actually be exacerbating and stimulating atherosclerosis and heart failure. The reason given in the research are numerous, the major ones being:
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- Vitamin K2 which protect the arteries from calcium buildup is inhibited by statins. This is significant because K2, along with magnesium (Mg) is vital in moving calcium out of the soft tissues and into the bones where it belongs.
- Mitochondrial dysfunction. Our energy is produced in the mitochondria and statins are toxic to these energy centres in our cells, disrupting ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production, which is our energy currency. This in turn compromises heart muscle function and disrupts intracellular signals.
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Statins are known to deplete CoQ10 (ubiquinol) levels and this fact was to be added as a warning on statin cartons and inserts but the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) decided against it in 2014.
25% of Americans are taking statin drugs. It is unfortunate that most of these patients are not warned about the devastating consequences of low CoQ10 levels. (If you are taking statins, you need 100-200mg of CoQ10 or ubiquinol every day because you cannot get enough from your diet and statins will deplete what you have got.)- Statins and Ketones. Dr. Aseem Malhotra, an interventional cardiologist consultant in London, U.K. says that statins block the formation of ketones. Ketones are an essential part of mitochondrial nutrition and overall health. If you can’t make ketones, you impair the metabolism in your entire body. This includes your heart which raises your risk for heart disease and a variety of other conditions.
- Selenium-containing proteins: Statins interfere with Selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidase. These proteins are vital in preventing oxidative damage to muscle tissue.
Selenium containing proteins – the authors state:
“Blocking the selenoprotein enzyme glutathione peroxidase is akin to pouring gasoline on the fire of inflammation and free radicals, which damages muscle tissue. In fact, the scientists described this blocking of the selenoproteins reminiscent of selenium deficiency induced heart failure, known as Keshan’s disease first identified in the 1930s.…the epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs. We propose that current statin treatment guidelines be critically reevaluated.”
So what exactly is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a ‘lipid’. It is absorbed by the body from our food and is synthesized by some of our cells, primarily those of the intestines and the liver. Cholesterol is also necessary for cell membranes in all tissues to produce normal cell and membrane growth. It is a necessary precursor for many crucial hormones such as progesterone, estrogen and testosterone as well as the stress hormones. When we are exposed to sunshine, it is the cholesterol in our skin that converts to vitamin D.
Different types of cholesterol
There are different types of cholesterol and here lies the problem. The two main different kinds that you hear of today are HDL which stands for high density lipoproteins and LDL which stands for low density lipoproteins. You may also hear of (very) VLDL and TG which stands for triglycerides. Triglycerides are not really cholesterol but another class of fats or lipids found in the blood.
Good and bad cholesterol?
When you hear about high cholesterol, that’s not really the whole story. You need to know the level of your HDL cholesterol (the good stuff) and your LDL, VLDL and TGs (the bad stuff). “High cholesterol” is a term we hear a lot and it does seem to put the frighteners on the general population but it is a deceptive simplification.
So what has magnesium got to do with cholesterol?
Magnesium actually has an affect on cholesterol levels. It regulates production of cholesterol by controlling the enzymes that produce it. It can raise the level of HDL (good) cholesterol and at the same time lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Depending on what the body requires, it can either increase or reduce cholesterol production¹.
But isn’t that what statins do?
Yes it is but statins are drugs which will have side effects. Magnesium is a natural nutrient which is vital for healthy cholesterol production and has no side effects (except diarrhoea if used to excess). Magnesium does the job naturally but even so, pharmaceutical companies started the quest of looking for a drug that would cut cholesterol off at its source. They did this by coming up with a drug that inhibits the enzyme which is responsible for cholesterol synthesis. So they invented a series of drugs called statins. The enzyme HMG-CoA reductase was the target.
Statins for all?
Statins are drugs that may reduce subsequent heart events ie. for those who already have heart disease and have suffered a heart attack or cardiac event. Recent research has now put this into doubt. But what makes it worse is now there seems to be a trend to prescribe statins to those patients that haven’t even got heart disease and have no signs of having it. Just elevated cholesterol levels will likely instigate your doctor to prescribe statins. Could this be something to do with Big Pharma putting money before patients’ health! Surely not?
No benefits for disease free patients so why prescribe it?
Studies have been undertaken with data from 65,000 people and it has been found that there is no evidence that statins had any benefits for preventing cardiovascular disease from disease free patients or even from those at risk from getting heart disease. For some, statins may do more harm than good with patients suffering from unpleasant side effects and recent studies are now pointing towards statins actually being dangerous.
Ask why!
If you are prescribed statin drugs for lowering your cholesterol, it would be wise to ask questions as to why it is being prescribed, particularly in the case of someone who does not have heart disease. Dr Sircus cited in his interesting article Run from your Statin recommending Cardiologist, a recent study in the journal of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention which reports that women who have used cholesterol-lowering statin drugs for more than 10 years have double the risk of two common types of breast cancer: invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma².
Cancer risks, liver or muscle damage?
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Dr. Thomas B.Newman and co-workers showed that all cholesterol-lowering drugs, both the early drugs known as fibrates (clofibrate, gemfibrozil) and the newer drugs known as statins (Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor), cause cancer in rodents at the equivalent doses used by man.
Dr Carolyn Dean in her book ‘The Magnesium Miracle” states – “Because statins work on liver enzymes, they can disrupt liver function. If you take statins, you must have regular blood tests to look for liver damage” and “Another acknowledged side effect, (of statins) statin myopathy, is an iatrogenic (doctor-induced) condition that damages muscles and is entirely related to statin intake.”
Dr Dennis Goodman who’s a cardiologist states in his book ‘Magnificent Magnesium’ – “If statins can’t prevent heart disease in people who are at risk for developing it, why prescribe them so liberally?”
Gemfibrozil shown to increase death rates
Dr. Gloria Troendle, deputy director for the Division of Metabolism and Endocrine Drug
Products for the FDA, noted that the cholesterol-lowering drug gemfibrozil belonged to a class of drugs that has repeatedly been shown to increase death rates among users. Despite only 3 of the 9 committee members voting to pass this drug, the FDA decided to approve Gemfibrozil for human consumption.
Ex NASA astronaut and MD.
Dr Duane Graveline, MD, MPH has a website called ‘Spacedoc.com’. He has retired as a medical doctor but was an American physician and a NASA astronaut. He was one of the six scientists selected in 1965, in NASA’s fourth group of astronauts, for the Apollo 
program. In one of his many articles about statins he cites one written in March 2015 by Dr Sidney Wolfe; the article is in the the BMJ (British Medical Journal) at: www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1388. Dr. Sidney Wolfe explains why he thinks the drug Crestor (rosuvastatin) should have been withdrawn and not used. He documents that Crestor’s prime problem is its strength. In the JUPITER study, compared to placebo, the rosuvastatin group had a significantly higher incidence (26%) of new onset diabetes. This same effect of rosuvastatin has been observed in other studies³.
So is cholesterol really the enemy?
It is interesting to note that many people with normal cholesterol levels die of heart attacks. In fact more people die of heart attacks exhibiting normal levels as those do exhibiting higher levels. A study published in The American Heart Journal in January 2009, analysed 137,000 patients admitted to hospital in the United States presenting with a heart attack. Almost 75% of those patients had ‘normal’ cholesterol levels.
Dr Ron Rosedale points out – “cholesterol is a vital component of every cell membrane on Earth. In other words, there is no life on Earth that can live without cholesterol. That will automatically tell you that, in and of itself, it cannot be evil. In fact, it is one of our best friends. We would not be here without it. No wonder lowering cholesterol too much increases one’s risk of dying. Cholesterol is also a precursor to all of the steroid hormones. You cannot make estrogen, testosterone, cortisone, and a host of other vital hormones without cholesterol.”
This could indicate that cholesterol is not the precursor to heart disease and there is something else going on which has been missed. Is the medical profession overlooking something? Perhaps we can’t see the wood for the trees? Is there a missing link?
Eat fresh unprocessed foods
One thing’s for sure, we all need to strive towards eating a healthy diet which includes, oily fish such as wild caught salmon, mackerel and herring, nuts and seeds, oatmeal, olive oil, organic coconut oil, avocados, green vegetables, fresh fruits, garlic, onions (raw is best), beans and pulses to name a few. Cut out the processed foods and try and cook from fresh. I know, you haven’t got the time! Make time, this is your health we’re talking about. Recipes for quick and easy home made meals that are healthy and nourishing are everywhere.
Don’t forget your exercise
Exercise regularly. How about using a bike or walking sometimes. Leave the car at home, it saves fuel! Why not take the dog for an extra long walk! Eating healthily and exercising regularly is the number one priority for keeping your heart in good condition. If you have no prior heart event then I would question your doctor if he prescribes a statin drug. In fact I would question him no matter what your state of health. Do you own research. Perhaps you could educate your doctor about cholesterol and the natural way to control it. Good luck with that!
Statin drugs and side effects
I want to finish this article by comparing what statin drugs do versus what magnesium does, specifically in relation to controlling cholesterol: This is a table taken from ‘The Magnesium Factor’ a book by Mildred S Seelig MD and Andrea Rosanoff Ph.D.
A Comparison of the Physiological Effects of Magnesium and Statin Drugs
Effect Statin Drugs Magnesium
Target Enzyme HMG-CoA reductase only HMG-CoA reductase and LCAT*
Effect on enzyme Inhibits or poisons Regulates and controls
Lowers ‘bad’ cholesterol Yes Yes
Raises ‘good’ cholesterol Sometimes Yes
Prevents clot formation Yes Yes
Reduces Inflammation Yes Yes
Slows and prevents
atherosclerotic plaques Now in doubt Yes
Raises liver enzymes
above normal Yes No
Can cause myopathy Yes Prevents myopathy
Many side effects Yes No
*LCAT (Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase) – an enzyme that converts LDL into HDL
which magnesium activates.
If you wish to make a comment, please do. I always answer questions and comments.
Corica F1, Allegra A, Di Benedetto A et al., “Effects of oral magnesium supplementation on plasma lipid concentrations in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus,” Magnes Res. 1994 Mar;7(1):43-7.- Long-term statin use and risk of ductal and lobular breast cancer among women 55-74 years of age; Jean A. McDougall et al; Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention; Published OnlineFirst July 5, 2013; doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-0414
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Chih-Wei Chen, et al “Differential Impact of Statin on New-Onset Diabetes in Different Age Groups: A Population-Based Case-Control Study in Women from an Asian Country” PLoS One. 2013; 8(8): e71817. Published online 2013 Aug 12. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071817.
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Such an informative article. I have never had any heart problems, but because I have type 2 diabetes (due, I believe, in part to an antidepressant I was on for years) 🙁 , I was put on 10 mg of Rosuvastatin. Do you think this is something necessary for someone with type 2 diabetes as precautionary? I also take Metformin and 2 mg of Candesartan. My last 2 A1Cs have been 5.9 and 6. Everything is so frustrating these days. I did just have an echocardiogram because I asked for it as I have been concerned about my heart because of diabetes. It was normal. I had a stress test which I was told wasn’t normal but wasn’t abnormal either. There was a bit of a skip or extra beat somewhere in the test. I am to wear a heart monitor for a couple of days to see if everything is ok. How do I ever make the decision of stopping something my doctor has prescribed?
Hi there Shelley and thank you for sharing your health problems. Let me start by giving you real hope to reverse your type 2 diabetes Have a look at the article and try and get ‘The Diabetes Code’ by Dr Jason Fung.
Check out my what is magnesium chloride article. As for the statins, I would not be taking them at all, but that is my personal opinion. As you’ve never had a heart event, why would you be prescribed a statin anyway? Your palpitations are a sure sign of a magnesium deficiency and as the famous Dr Nadler says ‘diabetes is a magnesium deficiency state.’
I suggest you start taking magnesium chloride as explained in the article. Make sure you always buy food grade. You will be surprised how much calmer you are once on this mineral and your heart rhythm will go back to normal. It is absolutely vital for the heart and so many people are deficient in it.
As for stopping something that your doctor has prescribed, get yourself informed. My website will give you a good start. Do not be afraid to question your doctor. He may suggest a magnesium deficiency test, but these are next to useless and is probably one of the reasons most doctors think a magnesium deficiency is so rare. This article will explain why. Perhaps you could educate your doctor, now there’s a thought!
Tell you doctor what you want to do. You want to get off all drugs and reverse your diabetes. He may be surprised at how much you know and he may show some respect for your wishes. If not, go find another doctor! It’s your life, your body and your health, be responsible for it! Good luck and get back to me if you have any more questions.
Hi again,
Thank-you so much for your reply! It is refreshing and encouraging to see you still following up with people.
I was put on the Rosuvastatin as a precautionary because of the diabetes and risks of heart disease but also because my cholesterol was a bit high. My numbers are now good. My question then would be, if I go off of the statin, my cholesterol could go back up and then I am at risk for complications, is that not right? I would like to go off it and then have blood work done in 3 months and see where things are at. Is that risky though, if my cholesterol numbers are going back up? Can I just go off the statin cold turkey or should I wean off of it? (your opinion 😉 ).
I thought/have read that citrate was a good form of magnesium to take but is chloride better? I will read your page on it as well. Maybe the chloride would be more helpful for me.
I take either Magnesium Citrate, 3 /150 mg tablets every night, by webber naturals, or 2 teaspoons of Natural Calm Ionic Magnesium Citrate powder mixed with water every night. Are either of these ones that you would consider good or acceptable?
We have had many life changing stressors in the last 2-3 years and I am struggling with depression and anxiety and many tears daily and keep putting off filling the prescription antidepressants that are on hold for me. I have been taking something natural (Ashwagandha) to try to help myself in that way. It’s hard to say if it is helping or not.
I have read some of Dr. Fung’s work and watched some youtube videos but will do this again and hopefully get off of the Metformin in time as well.
Hi Shelley, Please do not worry about your cholesterol. Here is an article which explains why. As you can see, cholesterol is really important for all of us. Those whose cholesterol is low could be subject to brain fog and other cognitive conditions, apart from many more problems. If you read the article, you will see that magnesium is a natural ‘statin’. It regulates the amount of cholesterol produced, depending on your body’s needs. Statins have many side effects, stifling CoQ10 being one of them and a serious muscle disease is another. Check it out! I have another Cholesterol post for you to look at here
Unfortunately we have been well and truly hoodwinked by the misinformation about cholesterol. But all you have to do is follow the money. Statins is one of the biggest money spinners for the pharmaceutical industry, an industry that is corrupt and has had to pay out billions in fines. In other words they are criminals with a record!
That is also the case with the experimental gene therapies which they call ‘vaccines’. You can imagine the amount of wealth they will acquire once their ‘needle in every arm’ is met. That is over 7.8 billion people in the world. It is absolutely mind blowing. Just in case you didn’t know, the C.19 disease is one of the easiest to cure, so a vaccine isn’t even necessary. There are over 5 and counting long standing drugs from the 1960s and 1970s which cure the disease, but they are being hidden from the general public. If a doctor prescribes them, he will likely lose his license. The two most common are hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. If you are in the US, you can obtain these drugs and put them in your medicine cabinet just in case! You can find out all about it from: https://covid19criticalcare.com/
It makes me so mad when ordinary folk such as yourself are steered into a life of pharmaceutical drugs, when there are many better natural ways to keep yourself healthy. Your reversible diabetes is a prime example. If it was me, I wouldn’t have taken statins at all. If it worries you, then wean yourself off them, but don’t take too long, thats my humble opinion.
Yes Mg Citrate is a good quality supplement, but it can cause laxative effects, which is good if you happen to have a sluggish digestive system ie. constipation. Also it doesn’t usual have a taste so it’s also good for youngsters who often eat junk food which causes digestive issues. Buy the powder, then you can dose accordingly. The difference between Mg Citrate and Mg Chloride is that the latter is 100% bioavailable, citrate is not. Read my article on ‘what is magnesium chloride’, it is completely explained.
Start taking Mg citrate or Mg chloride, it’s up to you. It depends which suits you best. If you don’t want to make your own Mg chloride, you can buy it from Dr Carolyn Dean, it’s known as ReMag but…it is very expensive! You can get food quality Mg Chloride from Amazon but at the moment in the UK anyway, it is out of stock. You can often get the citrate powder from health website. Most athletes know about it, so those kind of sites will also stock it. Citrate is definitely easier to find.
Ashwagandha is recommended widely by naturopathic doctors. I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t give an opinion. Whatever you do, get informed about all your symptoms and problems. Once you know yourself inside out, your knowledge will help you to keep you and your loved ones healthy. I myself haven’t seen an allopathic doctor for decades. Why? Because I know about my body more than any doctor does. Prescription drugs are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer in the United States and Europe. Around half of those who die have taken their drugs correctly; the other half die because of errors, such as too high a dose or use of a drug despite contraindications.
I wish you the best of luck and please persevere with researching your conditions and good health to you and yours.
To add to my “reply”, Chris, I meant to ask also, is there any Magnesium Chloride on amazon that you might think is a good option?
Hi – I am so confused and quite overwhelmed. I will be 66 in Sept. 2021, female, 5′ 2″, 186 lbs. I have not worked since Sept 2020 due to Covid and my own anxiety/depression from work atmosphere. I have always had high cholesterol over 240 or more – familial (have cholesterol deposits on eye / son has diabetes as well and can become quite defensive at the least little thing). My cholesterol went from 248 to 305 in the last 4 mos. Tried statins at early age (30’s and 40’s) stopped after a few weeks each time due to muscle pain. I started having chest pain in top portion of chest area above left breast. Had all the heart tests – nothing / great heart! have a impinged rotator cuff and arthritis in left shoulder. Still have discomfort in upper left chest area – drs. cant figure out why. Dr. now wants me to take 40mg of Pravastatin and 10mg of ezetimibe daily. Now I am concerned that an artery is clogged causing the left upper chest pain and no one seems to be that concerned other than give me the statins with advise to take CO Q10 to minimize the muscle pain. What about magnesium??????? Thank you for any information.
Hi there Mary, I will try and answer your questions and unravel your uncertainty. First of all, if you have never had a heart event ie. a heart attack, then statins are not going to help you. That is my opinion. You have read this article so you know why. I have another for you to read. This will give you more information on how important cholesterol is for a healthy body and mind. What is not good is oxidised cholesterol. Cholesterol is in fact an antioxidant. It sweeps up toxins and tries to eliminate them but in the process becomes oxidised. Cholesterol is not the problem, toxins are. This gives you a clue as to what you should put in your body so the oxidation problem is reduced.
Regularly using antioxidants such as magnesium, vitamins E,A and C can lower oxidised cholesterol levels. They deal with the overload of toxins which can then affect and oxidise your cholesterol. The most powerful of antioxidants is magnesium. It has been shown in research to reduce cholesterol levels. Copper deficiency should be looked at as it can contributes to elevated cholesterol. Too much copper is not good but a little may be of benefit.
Your diet is paramount. You must change your lifestyle as much as possible to include as much organic food and eliminate all those saturated and polyunsaturated fats. Hydrogenated oils and foods cooked in these fats are a no no. Sugar should be reduced and eliminated if possible and aspartame laced foods kicked to the curb. If you need to use an artificial sweetener, use Stevia. Nothing bad has been reported about it, but aspartame in particular is a toxin. Here is an article on it. Reduce fizzy drinks such as coca cola and pepsi, they are SO bad for you.
I will suggest 2 books for you to buy. 1. The Magnesium Miracle by Dr Carolyn Dean. Your problems are covered in this book, but from the perspective of natural solutions rather than pharmaceutical drugs. This author has spent most of her life researching and writing about magnesium which is, in my opinion, just as she says, a miracle mineral. 2. The second book is The Diabetes Code by Dr Jason Fung. This will show you how to reverse your son’s diabetes naturally.
I would suggest that you start taking a magnesium chloride supplement immediately. I have an article What is Magnesium Chloride which will explain how to make your own using food quality magnesium chloride crystals. It MUST be food quality, nothing else will do. If you can’t get it, I have a supplier in UK or Germany. They will deliver abroad. Start slowly with taking just a 5ml teaspoon of the liquid in a glass of water and taking a gulp or two throughout the day. Up the dose slowly until you reach a slight laxative effect, then cut back a little and see how you go. It is a dose you need to find out for yourself.
I suspect you have a serious magnesium (Mg) deficiency which will cause all kinds of side effects, including muscle pain. Cramps, insomnia, a sluggish digestion and many more. Have a look around my site, there are many more articles that may be of interest to you. One more thing, cut back on the calcium. Too much calcium (Ca) is a common problem. Mg and Ca should be in balance and too much Ca will exacerbate a Mg deficiency. It can also cause rotator cuff calcifications as well as other common ailments such as plantar fasciitis (heel pain). Also Ca is one of the culprits of clogged arteries. There is also treatment for that, but I don’t want to overload you. Get back to me if you have any questions. Once you have your Mg supplement, we can speak of other supplements that may help you. Good luck and keep in touch! Please think twice before taking any of those drugs. Try Mg first and see if you feel the difference.
I just had a stent because of a 90% blockage. I had just started using a magnesium complex a 6 weeks prior to the procedure. I was taking fish oil, Coq10, olive leaf extract, zinc and vitamin D prior, my cholesterol came down, good 226 to 156.
The doctor has me on Clopidogrel 75mg for clotting and Atorvastatin 45mg.
The question is can I still take my magnesium and coq10 while on these meds.
I don’t plan on staying on the Atorvastatin very long.
Hi there Ralph, I am sorry to hear of your medical problems. Unfortunately most pharmaceuticals deplete Mg rapidly, consequently this amazing mineral needs to be replete at all times. If you are worried about ingesting Mg, try a topical solution like Dr Carolyn Dean’s Mg lotion. It is expensive but well worth it.
The post you have commented on actually mentions how coq10 is knocked out by statins. I think you would be better off taking the supplement ubiquinol which is what coq10 changes to in the body. But, as we get older or if we have health problems it is harder for the body to change coq10 to ubiquinol. Again, ubiquinol is quite expensive but it is a superior product to coq10, or shall I say, it is more readily absorbed.
Plavix (clopidogrel) is a platelet action inhibitor, consequently you could also take a vitamin K2mk7 supplement which will not react with clopidogrel. Have a look at this article which gives the lowdown on calcification problems and how K2 moves calcium back to the bones. You also need to be on vitamin D3. You can obtain D3 which you spray into you mouth once a day, very convenient and highly absorbable.
Back to the Mg, I would suggest you start taking a Mg Chloride solution. Again Dr Dean does ReMag which is a high quality supplement. You can make your own if you can’t afford ReMag. All these good quality supplements seem to come at a cost. If ‘money is no object’ then spending it on your health seems a sensible thing to do. There are cheaper alternatives with Mg as the article explains, but you need to avoid Mg salts such as oxide which is cheap but not so cheerful! Be aware that many doctors are not au fait with natural supplements, you can’t blame them, they are not taught about it in medical college. A Naturopath (ND) as well as a medical doctor (MD) will give you the best of both worlds. These doctors of the future will opt for a natural treatment and only turn to drugs if there is no option. Hopefully, your doctor is open to new research and talking about necessary supplements such as Mg.
Lastly, please do your own research. Don’t leave it all to your doctor. Then, when you visit him/her you can both discuss the best treatment for you and you will also be informed as to whether you want the treatment suggested. You may even be able to educate your doctor, now there’s a thought!
PS – Cholesterol is not the enemy most doctors speak of. Check this article out and be informed how Mg controls cholesterol naturally.
Thank you that was quite informative and helpful.
I have every symptom of magnesium deficiency and am taking Atorvastin. Can I stop taking it and replace with magnesium? How much do I take? I am deficient in vitamin d also. Any help is much appreciated. Oh, I have had chronic constipation all my life. Thanks
Hi Susan, can I ask why are you taking Atorvastin? Have you had a heart attack in the past?
I wonder do you suffer from palpitations or heart arrhythmias or get twitches around your eyes? Do you get cramps or restless leg syndrome. Are you anxious and tense, get headaches or worse migraines? These are just some of the common Mg deficiency symptoms and you definitely seem to be suffering from a serious Mg deficiency just by the few symptoms you have already. Before I go on, I would stop taking the statin. Check out the link to my statin article below.
Can I point out a few points.
1. Magnesium is necessary to activate vitamin D, otherwise, what vitamin D you have will be in its de-activated form. Get your Mg levels up before taking a vitamin D supplement because the Mg will activate what you have. Then you can get tested for vitamin D deficiency. ‘Request a Test’ does them in the US I think.
2. Statins are of no use to anybody unless they’ve had a heart event. Even then, the benefits are dubious and IMHO they definitely do not compensate for the side effects of statins.
3. Constipation is a common side effect of Mg deficiency and this is something you can deal with right now! I suggest for the moment, you buy some Mg Citrate powder. Health shops should have it but it may be quicker to get it off line with this lockdown. Make sure it is ‘powder’ not tablets. I say this because it allows you to dose yourself gradually without getting the laxative effect. Although, I suspect you won’t worry too much about that. Also, this form of Mg is tasteless and can be put into drinks (although it’s a bit gritty) or sprinkled over food or soups etc.. I guarantee your constipation will be eased with Mg. After you’ve sorted that out, you can start thinking about regularly taking a good quality Mg supplement. By the way, Mg citrate is ideal for kids. You’d be surprised how many children have constipation because of a Mg deficiency and the junk a lot of them eat.
I take at least 600mg of magnesium per day. I always use food quality Mg Chloride and make up my own, which is very easy to do, check out the article. I always take more if I know the day will be stressful. Stress is a killer and when we suffer it, our Mg levels will plummet. Once you know how much you need for your body, you can adjust. This is something you will have to monitor for yourself. You know your body better than anyone and it is you who is best qualified to adjust your supplementation to suit your needs.
If you’re in the US then your best bet is ReMag. There’s a link to Amazon on my right sidebar. It is expensive but it will do the job admirably. There are also a couple of other links for different types of Mg supplement you can use. If you’re in the UK I can send you a sample of food quality Mg Chloride (ReMag is also Mg Chloride). This article will tell you all about Mg Chloride.
Meanwhile have a look at this article about statins and take note that Mg is a natural statin and is necessary to regulate your cholestrol production. Your body needs cholesterol. Your brain is a fatty organ, it cannot do without cholesterol. Too little and your brain will start to malfunction. Your body knows how to adjust for cholesterol, if it has the nutrients to do the job. Statins are one of the biggest money makers for the pharmaceutical industry. The public are paying for something which is unnecessary and can cause harm. The only benefit is to the bottom line of the most powerful industry in the world, the pharmaceuticals.
Please, please always check the drugs that your medic prescribes for you. Do research on your own conditions, don’t leave it up to a stranger who often knows next to nothing about what your body really needs to be healthy. Did you know that doctors are not taught about vitamins and minerals that the body needs. Their education is geared only to pharmaceutical based drugs and treatments. Why is that? Take a look at this article.
Once you’re on a decent Mg supplement, you will feel you’re getting your health back again. Then you can start to look at other areas of your health and make sure your vitamins and minerals are balanced. I suspect you will be vitamin D deficient. If you live in sunny climes and are not Mg deficient, your vitamin D may be replete.
Please let me know how you get on and if in UK, tell me in the comment if you require a sample of Mg Chloride.
Here’s to you and your future healthy and happy life!
I recently was diagnosed with Afib.The heart doctor prescribed statins.For two years after heart doctor prescribed I refused ti take .After I was diagnosed with Afib the heart doctor got on his computer and was telling me my risk of dying if I didn’t take them.I have felt horrible,foot pain. rushing noise in my head, knee and hip pain,memory loss, blurry vision, and extreme neck pain.I am really worried now that I have read this.I am pale and look like I have aged 10 years,My friend after being put on statins ended up on a walker at one point in a nursing home.I am worried about taking them.I take magnesium every day and my doctor did nor bother telling me to take coq10,I went and got some.Is it O.k to stop taking them if I have only been on them a short time?
Hello Pamela and thank you for your communication. Have you ever had a heart attack? if not, you shouldn’t be on this drug anyway. Although IMHO even those who have suffered an event will get no benefit from statins. Instead they will likely suffer side effects as I pointed out in my post. Have a look at this post by Dr Carolyn Dean. She is an MD and an ND, this is the best kind of doctor, one who will use natural solutions to your conditions and only resort to a drug as a last resort. Remember, Statins are a big money spinner and Pharma want to keep their income from these drugs coming in. Consequently, doctors will be biased as they are very much controlled by the pharmaceutical industry.
If you are an older person, you would be better to take Ubiquinol which is a stage further on than CoQ10. Older people have trouble converting CoQ10 to Ubiquinol. Statins and the majority of other drugs will deplete your Mg further. What kind of Mg are you taking. Have a look at this post on ‘what is magnesium chloride’. This post shows you how to make your own Mg Chloride supplement. If you don’t want to bother with this, buy ReMag by Dr Dean, which is Mg Chloride based. It is a very high quality supplement, but it is expensive! If money is no object, you can buy Altrient LivOn liposomal Magnesium L-Threonate. I can’t afford this but I have just ordered one box just to try it. I will be doing a post on it after taking it for 1 month.
Please don’t buy Magnesium Oxide, it is very, very poorly absorbed but will cure any constipation problems quite quickly!! Please remember, your doctor does not know you as you do. You know how you feel. The pain in your foot could be Gout, very common with a Mg deficiency. Memory loss with statins is quite common, as is muscle pain. If you’re worried about stopping the statins, reduce them slowly but I would just stop taking them. A relative of mine was on statins and I advised him to stop taking them. He did stop and then went to his doctor for a regular check up. His doctor advised him to stop taking the statins because he was showing signs of diabetes! (My relative did not tell the doctor he had already stopped taking them).
Statins are supposed to stop Cholesterol but please remember, Cholesterol is absolutely vital for the brain. If you run down your cholesterol, your brain will suffer and that’s what happens to many who are on statins. Another point is that Magnesium, apart from being a heart rhythm regulater, is also a natural statin. It is a necessary mineral which actually regulates how the body makes cholesterol. Please take everything you read or hear from the medical fraternity with a pinch of salt. Your best bet is to start researching your own conditions so you can make an informed decision about any treatment or drugs you may be prescribed and perhaps even educate your doctor!
It’s your body, take charge of it!! Firstly, make sure your diet is junk free. No artificial sweeteners, especially Aspartame, no processed foods, kick fast food to the kerb and start making your own meals from scratch. Cut out the sugar. Use Himalyan rock salt. All this is difficult for some but once in the habit, you will find your health will improve no end. Buy good quality ingredients no GMO. Buy as much organic food as you can afford. Good luck to you and I hope your health improves leaps and bounds!
Hello Chess,
Magnesium for anxiety is now often offered by physicians and herbalists alike.
That’s the reason it is in my regime.
I refused statins for high cholesterol due to their side-effects. I did not know Magnesium was
serving this dual-purpose for me, but now I believe it does!
My cholesterol has fallen and I have taken no other drug, but only Magnesium and a sensible diet.
Keep telling what you think about drugs and processed food, for surely voices need to be raised!
Janice 2019 😊🌷
Nice to hear from you Janice and I am so pleased you’re taking Magnesium regularly and it’s improving your health. Obviously you are also trying to spread the word. Keep it up!
Thank you for telling the truth about statins! I have high bad cholesterol and every doctor I see tells me that I need to be on statins. Let me tell you my side effects from taking statins.
I have been on three different statins at three different times in my life with very limited benefits, but a whole lot of side effects. For me, and one that is not really ever talked about was memory loss. I got it with my first round of statins. My spouse told me that I was saying stupid things that didn’t make sense. He also said that I was not saying words right and using the wrong words. He wondered if I was having a stroke!
About this time, my mom told me about her brother we had been on statins for quite some time. They were now treating him for Alzheimer’s disease. My mom said he went to a different doctor—more natural—and the doctor took him off the statin he was on. Within a month, his “Alzheimer’s” was all but gone!
I quite taking the statin I was on and within a few weeks I was remembering things better. I was not feeling sick every day!
A couple of years later, my doctor told me that I HAD TO take statins or I was going to have a heart attack. I told them about my previous experience and they assured me that this new statin would not do that. They assured me that memory loss was not a “thing” by taking a statin.
I trusted them. I couldn’t remember words! I am a journalist. I use words to make my living! Not being able to remember words was a HUGE deficit! I quit taking that statin. The doctor put me on another. I took it for a bit. When they did my cholesterol check, my bad cholesterol had gotten higher! I had changed my diet and things were worse. AND, I still was having a lot of trouble remembering words! My “good” cholesterol did improve a couple of points, though, so the doctor encouraged me to keep taking it!
Maybe they figured since my memory was getting so bad that I would forget I had memory loss! I don’t know what they were thinking, all I know is I now REFUSE to take statins! The last time I was on a statin was about a year ago and my memory still is a little fuzzy. It has improved greatly since the time I was taking the statins though. It is now on my medical record that I am “allergic” to statins.
I really appreciate the information you provided. I also appreciate the alternatives to statins that you talked about. Thank you! Thank you!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Thank you so much Karin for sharing your story about how statins affected your health. I am gratified that you now will not take them. Being a journalist, it must have been so frustrating to fight for your words.
Have a look at this post, it may be of interest to you. Reversing Diabetes Naturally – and it costs nothing! Now you may not have diabetes but you can definitely benefit from looking at the regime. I don’t know if you have a heart problem or whether it has been suggested by your doctor that you are at risk for one. It doen’t really matter. What really matters is to improve your health and this is a great way to do it. Try it, it’s easier than you think!
Thank you for your reply, Ches! I actually do have type 2 diabetes so I will be checking out the post!
Thank you again!
Best wishes,
Karin ?
After reading your article I have benefited greatly.You disscuss in your article about Statin Drugs and Side Effects. You also said Vitamin K2, Mitochondrial dysfunction, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10),Statins and Ketones, Selenium-containing proteins, Different types of cholesterol etc.I think your article is an informative article. After reading your article i have learned in this topics clearly. So, Thank you very much for sharing your article.
Thank you Mohammadahm for sharing your comment. Hopefully this will steer you into looking after your own health naturally and not using drugs unless absolutely necessary. There is usually a vitamin, mineral or other natural nutrient to counteract health problems, go for them first, use drugs as a last resort!
Awesome post. I found it very educational, I’m not from medical background but I was hooked while reading your post. It was quite a learning experience. I would not have know this information, if I had not visited your website.
Your analysis is in depth and complete. This post has triggered my interest to learn more about it, so I found your other useful posts in your website. I’ve bookmarked your site, would love to read such articles in the future as well.
Thanks a lot for sharing this article. I’ll also share it on my social media page. People may get benefited.
Hi there Akshaysaxena and thanks for your positive comments. I sincerely hope it gives insight into this drug so you can make an informed decision as to whether you need to take it or not. Make sure your Doctor knows that you know about this prescription medication, in fact you may even be able to educate him about it!
Hi,
Thank you for this informative post, it really opened my eyes to the importance of this mineral.
It is great that more people are becoming aware of the natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals which are actually doing a lot of damage.
I did a bit more research and found that there are several forms of magnesium. Is there one that you would recommend over another?
See my post Best Magnesium Supplements As you can see I definately favour either Mg Chloride solution or Mg Citrate, it really depends on any symptoms you may have. Everyone is different but if your digestion is sluggish the Mg Citrate may be your best choice, otherwise I would go for the Mg Chloride in solution form such as ReMag or Ionic Magnesium.
It is amazing with so many side effects from statins, why would they still prescribe them to people.
I found this article very interesting and very informative article to read, i have high cholesterol and the doctor prescribed statins for me, so i did some home work and discovered that it effects the liver, i have a fatty liver with slightly raised levels, so i did not take the tablets i threw them away, i lost weight and ate healthy and exercised and my cholesterol came down slightly.
I was very interested to read about magnesium i have never heard of this before to lower cholesterol, i would like your advice, i have a fatty liver with slightly raised levels and i have ulcer colitis in your opinion would taking magnesium help me?
Thanks for your comments and input Gareth. Mg can definitely help you. No matter what your disease or condition is, you need Mg to produce energy through ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The first thing you will notice when you take a good quality Mg supplement, is that you will have increased energy and a decrease in depression and stress. As for your ulcerated colitis, the same applies, increased energy and less stress and anxiety. The most common symptoms of colitis are: diarrhoea, cramping pains in the abdomen, tiredness and fatigue, feeling generally unwell or feverish, loss of appetite and weight loss, anaemia.
These symptoms are also relevant to a magnesium deficiency. As for the statins, If you’ve read the article thoroughly, you will know that Mg is a natural statin and does a better job than statins do, primarily because it does not block the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme but regulates and controls it. Statins actually poisons this important enzyme that controls the production of cholesterol. That’s why cholesterol drops rapidly when you take the drug. We all need cholesterol, why would we want to poison the enzyme that regulates it? Also remember, as per the table at the bottom of the post, *LCAT (Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase), is an enzyme that converts LDL into HDL and is activated by Mg. Also Mg will not affect your liver as it is a natural nutrient.
I would advise you to take Mg Chloride, either Dr. Dean’s ReMag, or otherwise Ionic Magnesium if you’re in the UK which is on my site. They are both high quality being 100% bioavailable, but quite expensive. It’s no good taking a cheap supplement, they are not very bioavailable and most will go straight through you. Start gradually at first by putting about a half dose (ReMag comes in 8oz. bottles at an average daily dosage of 250 mg per 4 mls (1 tsp = 5 ml) in a glass of water and drinking it throughout the day. Slowly up your dose every few days. Remember to take it gradually not all at once. It is best that the body takes magnesium in throughout the day as it would normally through food, so always spread your doses. Every day I take 600mg of Mg Chloride solution in a litre of water which I drink through the day. Everyone is different, you will soon know how much suits you. I also eat as many foods as possible with Mg in them. Unfortunately Mg is depleted in our soils so we can’t get enough from just our foods. Nuts, green veggies, if you like seaweed that’s really high in Mg, Foods With High Magnesium will give you an idea of the best foods.
Other things you can do is kick junk and processed food to the kerb! Buy as much organic as you can afford and get into cooking your own meals. Use organic coconut oil for your cooking and extra virgin olive oil as a second option. Cut down your sugar intake. If you want some chocolate have at least 70% cocao dark chocolate.
As soon as you feel more energised, you may be able to do some exercise, something you probably don’t feel like at the moment. This is not your fault! You can’t exercise without energy.
Be careful with your Calcium intake, most of us consume it to excess. Calcium is a toxin if taken without enough Mg to control it. That’s why so many of us have calcified arteries and hearts. That’s what a CCS (coronary calcium scan) does, it checks how much calcification has happened in your heart and arteries. Too much calcium will also cause cramping and muscle spasms, something you may be experiencing. Don’t drink milk before bedtime. Don’t take antacids, they will exacerbate any digestive problems if they are calcium carbonate (chalk) based, as the majority are. I hope you’re not on Proton Pump Inhibitors if so, this will exacerbate your problem. They actually stop the production of acid. Acid as strong as hydrochloric is necessary for the absorption of food. Weak stomach acid is normally the cause of indigestion, not too much stomach acid. Nexium is a PPI which is now an over the counter drug, beware!
I hope this has given you some food for thought. Get back to me if you have any more questions and good luck with your new health regime. Ches
PS Forgot to say that Mg will also help you sleep!
Hi there — this was very interesting. I actually had no idea that magnesium helped regulate cholesterol. I use it to help calm me — is there any basis to truth that magnesium helps with that? I also give it to my autistic son, for the same reason. The problem is, I often forget to take it! I would also like the best quality supplement, but it’s so hard to choose. What would you recommend as the best magnesium supplement that kids can take too? I’m in the uk! Thanks!
Hi there and thanks for reading the post. Magnesium is known to help your mood and is especially good for depression. It is the relaxing mineral. Your son can only benefit from taking magnesium. But you must remember to take it too as you are probably under more stress than you think. The best quality supplements are always the dearest, I’m afraid. If you’re taking magnesium oxide, which is the cheapest form, you will have little benefit because it is only at most 4% bioavailable and will mostly go straight through you. IMHO Mg Chloride is the best as it is completely bioavailable. Dr Carolyn Dean does one called ReMag and I also have one on my site. If you don’t mind a little laxative effect then Mg Citrate Powder is really good. It is gently laxative for those that could do with a little help with constipation. If you lived close to me, I could give you a free sample, where are you in the UK? As for the best supplement for kids, you may prefer the Mg Citrate powder as its tasteless and can be put in soups, gravies, porridge etc.. The Mg Chloride has a bitter salty taste which a child may not like too much. It has to be taken in water. Get back to me if you want a sample. Ches
Very very informative post you have here Chessie. I have learned a lot about cholesterol and especially about magnesium.
I wasn’t aware that there are 4 kinds of cholesterol and the High Cholesterol that is so famous for causing cardiac arrest is not really the culprit, rather it is the low density cholesterol.
This is a very valuable information about our health and I think everybody should read this.
I have shared your post as well. 🙂
Hi there Norstad and thanks for reading the article. I am gratified you found value in the information as this is what I try to work towards with my posts. The more we take control of our own health and do a little research, the better for us all. Thank you for sharing it, much appreciate.
This is a brilliant article and is something I’ve been researching in great detail for quite some time. There are a lot of articles and videos out there by a Dr Tim Noakes who has been speaking out about Statins for a long time.
My mother is on them and has been getting a lot of the side affects you see mentioned, I’ve tried warning her that these drugs are dangerous and that cholesterol isn’t the big bogeyman that we’re led to believe. But she is totally blinded by the big pharma industry and calls me nuts!
Personally, I think you hit the nail firmly on the head right in the very first paragraph of this article. The word in question is “Profitable” A lot of people are making a lot of money by dishing out this snake oil and it is quite sinister that peoples lives are being put in danger in the name of money.
It isn’t just Statins either, the same can be said for many medications and treatments, but that’s another rabbit to be dealt with again :)P
Jay
Hi Jay and thanks for reading the article. I’m so glad that more people are coming round to realizing what’s going on with these drugs. I also have a close relative on statins and no matter what I say, he thinks the doctor is the bees knees and what he says goes.
As a point of interest, my husband’s brother was put on statins and took them for a while. He suffers with terrible muscle pain and we persuaded him not to take them. He has now been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and his doctor has told him to come off the statins!
I’m also in touch with an MS sufferer who is on Aubagio (teriflunomide). I’m convinced this man hasn’t got MS at all, just a severe case of magnesium deficiency which has similar symptoms. Why doctors don’t entertain magnesium and other natural nutrients as initial treatment, must be to do with finances and/or pressure from Big Pharma! Ches
I love your post. Everything i have read about statin drugs are here. I was taking lipitor for a while and my cholesterol went down to .5. This is not good as our bodies need cholesterol, a balance of both HDL and LDL. I refuse to take it. Now i have a new specialist she has put me on a low dose of crestor and does not believe all the info on statins. Although i am at a high risk of heart attack i don’t believe i need to take any. What do you think of bergamot to lower cholesterol. I do not have a deficiency of magnesium.
Hi Christine and thanks for reading the article. I know that bergamot reduces stress and is supposed to help lower the LDL cholesterol according to Dr Julian Whitaker. I must admit I’ve not tried it myself. By the way, how do you know you’re not deficient in magnesium, have you had a serum test? If you have, it is very inaccurate as only 1% of our total magnesium in our body is available to test with serum. Also the body does its best to make sure this level of magnesium stays consistent, even if levels in the rest of the body are low. Therefore, despite a deficiency, the test will usually show normal. The most accurate test is the buccal cell smear test (Exatest) but this is never done in hospitals or by doctors, they always use the antiquated serum test. Ches
Very informative and specific. Didn’t know Mg plays such a magnificent role in our lives. Thanks for all the effort. Definitely engaging with pictures and information. I never would have thought of Mg being important for us. I will consider some of what you are offering as my cholesterol level is a little high.
Hi Eddy and thanks for reading the somewhat long post. I’m pleased you’ve found value in the information and hope you will indeed think of magnesium as a vital nutrient for all our health needs and a natural regulator of cholesterol. Ches