An organic chemist and author of a book on "natural cures" claims children are being prescribed low-cholesterol drugs that could harm them.
Shane Ellison, author of “Over-The-Counter Natural Cures,” says his book exposes the “over dangers of many popular drugs” and argues “natural medicine” is cheaper and more effective.
"Many people believe they need to lower their cholesterol with cholesterol-lowering alternatives to save them from heart attack and stroke,” he said, in a release posted on PRNewswire. “The myth is so prevalent that the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association issued new guidelines set out to put children as young as 8 years old on cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins).”
Ellison posted what he said is a comprehensive review of scientific literature about the negative effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs and aspirin on his blog – The People’s Chemist.
In issuing its guidelines on statins for children in 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded there was enough indirect evidence to suggest that starting treatment early makes sense in children with very high levels of cholesterol.
The guidelines were released in response to the high rate of obesity among U.S. children and concerns that they could face increased risk of heart disease as adults.
The guidelines advise cholesterol testing for millions of children who have a family history of early heart disease or other risk factors such as obesity or high blood pressure. Under the guidelines, those 8 and older should be considered for medication if they have a concentration of LDL, the so-called bad cholesterol, greater than 190 milligrams per deciliter.