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Clogged artery (simulation)
Photo: Getty Images
SPIEGEL:
Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide.
Millions of people try to protect themselves from this by lowering the cholesterol in their blood.
Are you doing the right thing?
DuBroff:
We
've
been told time and time again that low cholesterol is one of the best ways to prevent heart disease.
In addition to physical activity, there are two ways to do this: through diet and with medication, so-called statins.
We have looked carefully at many studies.
The evidence that statins or avoiding saturated fat in the diet can make life longer is inconclusive.
SPIEGEL:
What made you question the benefits of statins?
DuBroff:
When the first statins were approved around 30 years ago, it was thought that they could eliminate heart disease.
In my home country, the USA, the use of statins almost doubled between 2002 and 2013, and the cholesterol levels in the population fell.
Still, there are more cardiac deaths.
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