The TRUTH about Statins, formerly @holmanm
Info is provided for educational purposes only & should not be considered as medical advice. (NO DM's please)
20 subscribers
Jun 7 • 10 tweets • 2 min read
1/10 For years people have been led to believe that cholesterol is some kind of evil fatty substance that somehow gets into the bloodstream, where it doesn’t belong, and clogs arteries. Since everyone is being taught to fear cholesterol we should know that cholesterol is /2
2/10 actually a crystal of solid alcohol known as a steroid - specifically a sterol. The word cholesterol comes from Ancient Greek chole- 'bile' stereos 'solid', followed by the chemical suffix -ol for an alcohol. Cholesterol is vital in the membranes of cells /3
Jun 6 • 16 tweets • 3 min read
1/16 I’m more than happy to work with @DoctorTro
on heart health. His dietary advice and focus on preventing heart disease are spot on. But I cannot accept the claim that statins are plaque busters. /2
2/16 It is based on flawed, industry-funded studies that don’t hold up to scientific scrutiny
Statins’ mechanism of action tells a different story. Statins increase blood glucose, cause apoptosis in smooth muscle cells lining the endothelium, damage miochondria, and induce /3
Jun 3 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
1/4 Claiming “no ideological conflicts” is a lazy way to dodge the real debate. The argument over statins isn’t ideology, it’s about their actual effects. Statins block the mevalonate pathway, which doesn’t just lower cholesterol but also starves cells of compounds needed
/2
2/4 for signaling and membrane health. This can lead to myositis, memory issues, and calcification in arteries that makes heart disease worse. Rosuvastatin, which you seem to like, can still mess with brain cholesterol enough to cause problems like brain fog. /3
Jun 3 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
1/6 @DoctorTro Your tourniquet analogy is a stretch, and honestly, it feels dismissive of the real risks statins pose. Tourniquets are a temporary, external fix to stop bleeding, while statins cause systemic, biochemical changes with long-term consequences like muscle damage, /2
2/6 neurological effects, heart failure, autoimmune issues, and even increased artery calcification. Tourniquets don’t alter cellular pathways or cause widespread cell death, but statins, by depriving cells of mevalonate, can kill cells and lead to serious effects like
/3
Jun 3 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
1/8 I certainly do have an opinion on this article, because this post highlights the oversimplified advice often given about statins like Rosuvastatin. (Crestor). Suggesting that supplementing with CoQ10 alone can mitigate statin-induced damage is reckless and overlooks the /2
2/8 broader biochemical disruptions these drugs cause. Statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, which not only reduces CoQ10 levels but also blocks other essential isoprenoids like dolichol and prenylated proteins. These compounds are vital for cell signaling, membrane integrity, /3
Jun 1 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
1/5 Years ago, my stepsister was prescribed 40mg Lipitor for “high cholesterol” b/c “it runs in the family”. Her dad died of CVD at 53. He smoked, drank heavily, & ate terribly. I warned her statins would harm her. She didn’t listen, fear-driven, and following a low-fat diet. /2
3/5 Fast forward 10 yrs. She’s seeing a neurologist for hand/foot tremors. He says it might be early Parkinson’s. I begged her to stop the statin before it does more harm. Statins can deplete CoQ10, mess with brain function, and may worsen tremors. She still wouldn’t listen. /4
May 31 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
1/5 Statins are widely used to lower cholesterol, but blocking the mevalonate pathway can cause Parkinson’s disease (PD). How does this happen ?
The mevalonate pathway produces more than just cholesterol. It makes CoQ10, FPP, and GGPP. /2
2/5 Statins block this pathway by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, reducing these key molecules critical for brain health. CoQ10 is vital for mitochondrial function. Blocking mevalonate lowers CoQ10, causing mitochondrial dysfunction in dopamine neurons./3
May 31 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
1/6 I’m so tired of hearing “What about Repatha ? What about Ezetimibe ? What about Red Yeast Rice ?” to lower my cholesterol". Stop it ! It’s not cholesterol that needs lowering, it’s INSULIN. Insulin resistance & inflammation are the real drivers of cardiovascular disease. /2
2/6 Let’s talk about what actually matters.
Cholesterol isn’t the culprit in heart disease, insulin resistance is. Insulin turbocharges cholesterol production via the HMG-CoA Reductase enzyme, but the root issue is high insulin levels. Fix that, and tackle the real problem. /3
May 30 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
1/8 It's extremely rare for doctors to de-prescribe statin drugs. When patients report "side effects", doctors often dismiss them, saying "statins can't do that," or they simply switch brands or doses. But the problem runs deeper. /2
2/8 Most drs aren't familiar with the true mechanism of action of statins. They prescribe without understanding how depriving the body of mevalonate leads to a cascade of direct effects. This lack of curiosity is not only a disservice to patients, it's downright dangerous /3
May 26 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
1/12 “How statin drugs really lower cholesterol and kill you one cell at a time” - James B. Yoseph, Hannah Yoseph MD.
Epilogue:
Hannah an I started this book with closely aligned motives. Her interest as a medical doctor was that she had become suspicious of statins while /2
2/12 still practicing medicine. Mine was as a victim. We discussed the possibility of writing an exposé and eventually made our first attempt.
There are many statin critics but the evidence they presented was a mixture of fact and theory and no one seemed to have the /3
May 23 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
1/ Amyloid Beta (Aβ) Protects the Brain !
Amyloid beta isn’t the villain in Alzheimer’s. Aβ is an antimicrobial peptide, trapping pathogens like bacteria and viruses to shield your brain. Targeting it with drugs like Donanemab ignores its protective role and risks /2
2/5 severe side effects like brain bleeds and swelling. Cholesterol Is also our Body’s Ally !
Cholesterol and mevalonate derivatives are essential for cell membranes, hormones, and immunity. They protect against inflammation and stress. Statins, pushed by pharma, disrupt this /3
May 19 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
1/7 The ApoB Myth & Why Lipid Tests Alone Mislead on Heart Disease Risk:
Implying high ApoB alone causes heart disease is not true. It is the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio that matters, acting as a surrogate marker for insulin resistance - a key CVD risk factor.
/2
2/7 Isolated lipoproteins like LDL or ApoB without context are meaningless.
Lipoproteins (ApoB, ApoA1) do more than transport cholesterol. They fight infections & aid tissue repair.
⬇️
1/12 Challenging the LDL Dogma: AGAIN !!
The mainstream medical narrative asserts that high LDL causes atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease by accumulating in artery walls, forming plaques. If this were universally true, everyone with high LDL would develop CVD, and /2
2/12 those with low LDL would be immune. This isn’t what we see in reality. Why ??
High LDL, No heart disease:
Dr. Malcolm Kendrick cites a 72-year-old with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), with LDL at 486 mg/dL but no coronary artery calcification or CVD after decades.
/3
May 16 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
1/6 Great thread from @Mangan1 !
I would also add that LDL particle size matters.
Not all LDL is equal. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) carries cholesterol, but its particle size matters for heart disease risk. Small, dense LDL (sdLDL) is more atherogenic (plaque-causing)
/2
2/6 than large, fluffy LDL. sdLDL is more plaque-promoting because it’s easily oxidized and triggers inflammation. Macrophages engulf oxidized sdLDL, forming foam cells. Foam cells are a key driver in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. /3
May 11 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
1/6 Are We Ignoring the Harm of Statins ?
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Statins are linked to muscle cell apoptosis (cell death). Yet, when patients report muscle damage, doctors often just switch the statin instead of /22/6 questioning the drug itself. Why ?
Take this case: A patient on statins for 20+ years—Lipitor, Crestor, Repatha. Lipitor caused crippling ankle/Achilles pain. Crestor led to torn biceps (both needing surgery) and severe neck pain requiring spinal fusion./3
May 8 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
1/8 The pharmaceutical industry knows statins are toxic (see “Statin Toxicity" document) yet they keep pushing statins to lower LDL. A 2019 study in Circulation Research details how statins cause muscle damage, mitochondrial impairment, and necrosis. They KNOW the harm /22/8 but prioritize profits over lives.
.
/3ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CI…
May 6 • 7 tweets • 1 min read
1/7 Statins lower LDL, but heart disease is driven by insulin resistance & inflammation, not LDL. Let’s rethink CVD prevention./2
2/7 LDL is vital for cell repair & hormones. When insulin & inflammation are low, LDL is protective. Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) from high insulin is the real culprit in heart disease.
/3
May 5 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
1/10 Good question ! Believe nothing, trust no one. Stay curious. When claims sound too good to be true, they often are. Trust the science, not the rhetoric:
The Statin-Ezetimibe Plaque Shrinkage Claim Raises Red Flags, and does not stand up to scientific scrutiny.
/2
2/10 Trials like ASTEROID and ZEUS claim Statins and Ezetimibe “shrink plaque” and reduce Percent Atheroma Volume (PAV), but broader evidence shows Statins increase CAC. How can plaque volume decrease while calcification rises ? /3
May 5 • 8 tweets • 2 min read
1/8 Statins: CAC, Vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis, K2-MGP, and Cellular Damage: ⬇️
Statins by lowering LDL can increase coronary artery calcificatiton. The drug industry term this "stabilizing plaque" 🙄 This paradox suggests lowering LDL isn’t the win it’s /22/8 made out to be. CAC progression can signal risk. Statins induce apoptosis in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells (VSMCs) by blocking the mevalonate pathway, reducing isoprenoids needed for cell survival. Dying VSMCs release calcium-rich vesicles, adding to arterial calcification, /3
May 2 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
1/5 After 20+ yrs researching Statins, sparked by my Father's experience on Lipitor and my Uncle’s ALS diagnosis on 80mg Lipitor, I’m alarmed.
Statins, by depleting mevalonate, pose serious risks. Here’s why we need to talk./2
2/5 Statins block Mevalonate, a key pathway, causing memory loss, muscle damage, & even heart failure. My Father was hospitalized with torn ligaments, acute pancreatitis, and memory loss/dizziness. My Uncle was diagnosed with ALS after 12 months on 80mg Lipitor.
/3
May 1 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
1/9 Lovastatin, Lipitor, and their Mevalonate Blockade:
Have you ever wondered how statins gained FDA approval ?
A lie by omission.
Lovastatin (1987) & Lipitor (1996) were FDA-approved statins to lower cholesterol. Merck & Pfizer didn’t disclose /22/9 the fact that statins blocked the Mevalonate Pathway. This omission is indefensible. Here’s why: Both drugs inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, reducing cholesterol while also depleting vital biochemicals necessary for cell survival : farnesyl pyrophosphate, /3
