Icon: enlarge
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.
Read more with Spiegel Plus
More perspectives, more understanding.
Your advantages with SPIEGEL +
Icon: Check
DER SPIEGEL as a magazine
as an app, e-paper and on the e-reader
Icon: Check
All articles on SPIEGEL.de
Exclusive texts for SPIEGEL + readers
Icon: Check
Try one month for free
Cancel anytime online
A price
only € 19.99 per month
One month for € 0.00
Try now for 0.00 € Buy nowArrow to the right
Already have a digital subscription? Register here
Restore iTunes subscription
SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation.
24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed by one month at the current price of € 19.99.
You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account.
In order to use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you have to link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase.
With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.