Cholesterol - latest news...

Pfizer stops cholesterol drug trial
Food and Drug Administration, December 03, 2006
The FDA was notified by Pfizer that it is cancelling its phase 3 tests due to an increased rate in mortality.

Doctors are divided over this news. Some thought that  this was going to be a wonder drug that would be a significant break through in the treatment  of heart disease, others contest that there are existing drugs that are just as good if not better.


Sugar cane extract doesn't lower cholesterol
Reuters Health, Friday, November 24, 2006, By Anne Harding
A new study adds to growing evidence that an extract from Cuban sugar cane does not help lower cholesterol levels.

While there are some plant products that help cut cholesterol it now seems increasingly likely that the policosanols (a mixture of aliphatic alcohols derived from purified sugar cane) in cuban sugar do not. The researchers say that there needs to be more scurtiny of this type of product, especially has it is currently sold for $1 a pill.


Ties between cholesterol and Parkinson's in women
Reuters Health, Thursday, November 23, 2006
Women with higher levels of total cholesterol appear to be at decreased risk for developing Parkinson's disease, according to a report by researchers in the Netherlands.

While it is not clear why women are protected and not men, it may be related to coenzyme Q10 or the lipid-modifyinh effects of estrogen. What ever the reason the studies show that the risk is greatly reduced by the increase in cholesterol in women only.


Cholesterol linked with prostate cancer outcome
Reuters Health, Thursday, November 16, 2006
Men with low cholesterol have a reduced risk of developing more aggressive forms of the prostate cancer, but not a lower risk of developing prostate cancer overall, compared with men with higher cholesterol levels.

The findings show that statin drugs reduce cholesterol in the blood and may also influence prostate carcingenesis. While cholesterol levels do not appear to increase the risk of the cancer, those with the higher levels tend to have a more chance of getting high-grade prostate cancer. It is thought that cholesterol may help abnormal prostate cells survive for longer.