Grasping at straws

New study claims statin drugs may reduce the risk and severity of gum disease.

The news has been decidedly grim for statin drug manufacturers lately. Several months ago, reports surfaced that one of these drugs, Vytorin, doesn’t offer as much heart protection as patients have been led to believe. Since then, more and more people have started to question statins’ supposed “benefits” — and whether they outweigh the significant risks associated with them. So I suppose it’s no wonder that any study showing that these drugs can have a positive impact on health will make headlines. But the latest example seemed to be grasping at straws, if you ask me.

According to a Reuters Health article I read recently, “Statins may reduce periodontal disease severity.”

The article detailed a study conducted by researchers in Finland, who wondered if the anti-inflammatory effects associated with statins would affect periodontal disease and the inflammation it causes in the gums. They examined 100 patients with advanced periodontitis and found that patients who were taking statins had fewer pockets of diseased tissue in their gums than patients not taking the cholesterol-lowering drugs. Overall, they found that statin users had 43 percent less gum inflammation.

Apparently, the researchers considered these results exciting enough to conclude that “the findings could lead to new approaches for treating gum disease.” But I think their enthusiasm is a little premature.

First of all, there was no mention of any other factors that may have come into play in the differences they found between the statin users and non-statin users in the study. How many of them simply have better oral hygiene habits? It’s a simple — and obvious — question. But, unfortunately, it was one that didn’t appear to be addressed by the researchers at all (at least not according to the Reuters report that I read, which, I suppose further proves the points we covered in yesterday’s eTip).

But even more importantly, the very idea of taking a potentially harmful patented drug to lessen the odds of gum disease seems rather ridiculous when you consider that there’s a completely natural way to do that very thing — one that won’t put you at risk for any side effects.

You can protect yourself from gum disease by supplementing with the amino acid N- acetylcysteine (NAC). It can give a powerful boost to your body’s natural production of glutathione. Low levels of this antioxidant have been associated with periodontal disease. You can find NAC supplements in most health food stores, vitamin shops, and even some pharmacies.

Source:
“Statins may reduce periodontal disease severity,” Reuters Health news (www.reuters.com), 5/28/08