Cholesterol Drugs Work Best
in Evening
New research confirms at least one common
statin and probably most off the statins may
be most effective when taken at night as opposed
to the morning.
Researchers from England studied 83 patients
who were taking either 10 milligrams or 20
milligrams of simvastatin, otherwise known
as Zocor. They were taking the drug for primary
or secondary prevention of coronary heat disease,
stroke, or peripheral vascular disease.
Patients were randomized to take the drug
in the mornings or in the evenings. Fifty-seven
patients completed the trial. Most manufacturers
of statins recommend the drugs be taken at
night, but doubt has been cast on whether
that is the best time.
Researchers found when patients switched
from taking their nighttime pill to the morning,
there were significant increases in total
cholesterol and LDL, or the bad, cholesterol.
Authors of the study write, “Simvastatin
is probably best taken at night because concentrations
of total cholesterol and of low density lipoprotein
are significantly greater when it is taken
in the morning. This finding has implications
for compliance in preventing coronary heart
disease.”
British Medical Journal, 2003;327:788
FACT:
Obesity doubles for women, more than doubles
for men since 1985
The prevalence of obesity among Canadian women
has doubled over the last 15 years, new data
show. For men it has more than doubled. The
fat isn't just creeping up on Canadians, it's
galloping.
Canadian men continue to be fatter than women
on average, but women are catching up. Forty
per cent of men were overweight in 2001. From
1985 to 2001, the percentage of women defined
as overweight increased to 26 per cent from
19 per cent. Health Canada guidelines define
overweight as a body mass index of 25.
