The Great Cholesterol Con

Cholesterol Books from Amazon

The Great Cholesterol Con

List Price: $25.99
Amazon Price: $24.00

Average Customer Rating:

(39 reviews)

Editorial Review: heart disease, cholesterol, saturated fat, fat,

Customer Reviews:

1 of 1 found this review helpful:

Up-to-date truth, 2008-06-09
For several years I have read multiple research papers and other scientific literature regarding cholesterol and the effects of treating "elevated" cholesterol. This book gives remarkably extensive and contemporary as well as historic scientific information that should help people learn the truth about this subject. It is unfortunate that it will probably take another 10 years before the medical community comes to its senses about "treating" cholesterol. This book is not for the casual reader, however. Expect a lengthy discussion, though logical. Neil Hall, MD

2 of 2 found this review helpful:

Much more than cholesterol, 2008-05-10
Colpo writes in clear, engaging and flowing prose. The title does not convey the many other health myths he takes to task using Randomized Clinical Trials as much as possible and keeping an eye on statistical significance. Here is a partial list of the most striking conclusions drawn by the author:

1. Higher than average cholesterol is protective against CVD in those over 50, a population that is much more prone to CVD than young people. The very slight evidence for lower cholesterol being protective appears only in much younger subjects, who are at very low risk in the first place.

2. High cholesterol is protective against infection, including even by HIV. Low cholesterol, below 160 mg/dl is associated with increased mortality in all age groups but markedly so in the very old. It's worth noting here that most lab tests show reference ranges for total cholesterol that go from 200 mg/dl down to zero, that is, having zero total cholesterol, which would certainly be fatal, falls within the normal range given by most testing labs.

3. The supposedly heart-healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are more prone to oxidation than saturated fats. Oxidized LDL is an emerging risk factor thought to aid in the formation of arterial plaque. The body incorporates dietary fats into LDL particles. Thus, consuming the more readily oxidized fats is likely to increase CVD risk by raising oxidized LDL levels, which by the way are not influenced in the least by the level of LDL cholesterol. Saturated fats, due to their lack of double bonds, are more stable and less prone to oxidation. Polyunsaturated are the most easily oxidized followed by the monounsaturated fats. Skip the vegetable oils says Colpo even the ones free of trans fats.

4. High fasting blood sugar is a much better predictor of CVD as compared to standard cholesterol tests, which are almost worthless, yet most people have never had their fasting serum glucose measured. It's an inexpensive test that can be performed by any lab.

5. The French paradox is not so paradoxical. The French have one of the lowest rates of CVD in Europe and yet eat the most saturated fat. According to Colpo, wine consumption is not the correct explaination as the Italians also drink lots of red wine. It only seems paradoxical if one believes the dogma that saturated fat is a killer. Colpo argues that stress is a true risk factor. Stress is lowered and the post-meal rise in blood sugar is muted when one takes a relaxed attitude towards dining, as the French are famous for.

6. Vegetarianism is not so healthy. Colpo does advocate eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables but shows that meat is also of great value. Studies showing the benefit of excluding meat are subject to confounders (vegetarians excercise more and smoke less, for example) that when corrected for result in no benefit to vegetarians.

7. Colpo is a low carb advocate in order to control blood sugar but he is not fond of extreme ketogenic diets.

8. High iron stores are a risk factor for CVD. In Colpo's view this is the reason pre-menopausal women (due to monthly blood loss) have a lower CVD risk than men and post-menopausal women. Pre-menopausal women retain much less iron, which is a pro-oxidant. See point 3 above. Colpo suggests testing serum ferritin levels to determine if one has too much iron. Colpo thinks the standard upper limit given for ferritin by most labs is way too high. So, if your doctor says you have normal iron stores check the reading yourself. Colpo also suggests methods to lower iron levels if too high.

1 of 1 found this review helpful:

Incredibly Researched Critique!, 2008-04-30
Anthony Colpo demolishes the popular theory that high cholesterol, or even high LDL levels, cause coronary heart disease (CHD). He does this through painstaking, but compelling research, which few doctors have the time to perform. He deconstructs studies and clinical trials going back, in some cases more than fifty years, to show how the results of these trials have been either ignored or manipulated by interested parties, chiefly pharmaceutical companies. This industry has succeeded in brainwashing the medical profession to encourage the use of statins, now the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. This is must reading, not only for anyone who has been told that they need to take statin drugs, but for anyone interested in health care today.

0 of 4 found this review helpful:

Stats, 2008-04-13
Well I haven't read the book so technically I shouldn't be reviewing it but here's some statistics that may be useful for some. I'd likely be more inclined to give it a bad review as is the case with most of these books the author is ludicrously biased (including statistically) and goes off on an egocentric diatribe. That said, since I've not read it and wouldn't presume to know it I've decided to be sporting and give it 5 stars.

Choose whether to take statins for yourself

Heres a summary of the most important if not all the data

CHOLESTEROL TREATMENT TRIALISTS COLLABORATION META-ANALYSIS OF ALL THE DATA. LANCET 2005:366:1267

Secondary prevention (if you've already got some form of vascular disease):Number needed to treat:21 over 5 years to prevent one vascular event.

Primary Prevention (if no established cardiovascular disease), in high risk patients: Number needed to treat of 40 over 5 years to prevent one event

FURTHER METANALYSIS OF THE PRIMARY PREVENTION TRIALS LANCET 2007:369:168. They found for patients with no pre-existing cardiovascular disease
1.No evidence of reduction in total mortality
2.Overall cardiovascular events reduced with statins (NNT OF 67 over 5 years)
3.Analysis suggests benefit is only seen in high risk men aged 30-69 (NNT 50)
4.Women did not seem to benefit, nor anyone over the age of 69

BINGO - Take some personal responsibility, make up your own mind and stop expecting the doctor to agree with you about cholesterol. If you get side effects ask yourself if the benefits listed above are worth it.

5 of 5 found this review helpful:

Eye Opening, Fascinating and most importantly - Easy to Understand, 2007-12-26
Clear, easy to understand explanations of the scientific aspects of cholesterol, blood lipids, importance of nitric oxide, and more. After reading this book, I finally understood how the various fats - saturated, un, mono, poly - differ as well as the importance of nitric oxide, reducing stress, and eliminating free radicals. The cholesterol mania just doesn't make sense any more. (Unless - like I tell my husband - the heart dr.s just can't resist those hot salesgirls that visit their offices.)
This book has retrained me to be skeptical of everything related to nutrition and even make my own way through some of the studies.

I had originally purchased the e-book version based on the complaints about font size and poor layout. It got awfully tiresome shuffling the e-book print-outs around, so I broke down and purchased the paper book. Not sure what the other folks were complaining about. It was certainly easier on the eyes than a college textbook or mass market pbk. Plus it is much easier to read, underline & highlight while lying in bed!

Colpo also has an e-book "The Fat Loss Bible" which is worth its weight in gold. As much as I would like to see a conventional book made out of this as well, I'm afraid the advice is much too practical to elicit the attention of publishers.

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