Be careful with your supplements (A Warning from a Doctor)

I take pitavastatin 2mg so I guess based on below I need not worry about the risk of insulin resistance: am I right @KarlT or I may be missing something?

Pitavastatin may have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, particularly in patients with type 2 diabetes, although some studies indicate it may not significantly impact insulin resistance overall.

Effects on Insulin Sensitivity

  1. Clinical Observations : Case reports have shown that pitavastatin can improve insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes. In a study involving two patients, treatment with pitavastatin led to increased glucose infusion rates during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies, suggesting an improvement in insulin sensitivity.


2.1*

  1. Clinical Trials : A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed the effects of pitavastatin on insulin sensitivity and liver fat in overweight, insulin-resistant men. The study found that pitavastatin did not significantly affect insulin sensitivity or liver fat compared to placebo, indicating that while it may have some benefits, its overall impact on insulin resistance might be limited.


4.2*

  1. Comparative Analysis : While some statins are associated with worsening insulin sensitivity and an increased risk of new-onset diabetes, pitavastatin’s effects appear to be less detrimental. However, the evidence is mixed, and further research is needed to clarify its role in glucose metabolism.


6.1*

4 Sources

Conclusion

Overall, pitavastatin may offer some benefits for insulin sensitivity, particularly in individuals with type 2 diabetes, but its effects are not universally significant across all studies. Patients considering pitavastatin for cholesterol management should discuss potential impacts on insulin resistance with their healthcare provider, especially if they have concerns about diabetes or metabolic health. Further research is warranted to fully understand the implications of pitavastatin on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism.



International Online Medical Council (IOMC)
Pitavastatin Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetic Patients …



oup.com

I think your preventative approach makes some sense. I am curious why you take modafinil, and how often and in what dosages?

This I took as an experiment for mood uplifting and motivation (I’m not aware of any preventative or longevity benefits) and it is a very powerful substance. I took 50mg and yes, it makes a difference in mood and motivation though I did experience a couple side effects such as It increased my appetite drastically basically, I was hungry no matter how much I ate, plus there was a significant late afternoon crush (I took the dose in the morning). so, I’m not going to take it very often, only on rare occasion I might need a boost at work or at a certain social setting.

I am using Selegiline though regularly which had very similar uplifting mood effect as modafinil and helps me with inflammation, but I have witnessed no side effects. so, I’ve been taking Selegiline for 10 days now and intend to use it perhaps forever…I only take 1.25mg in the morning under my tongue but might up the dose to 2.5 in the future. btw, just placed an order for 600 selegiline 5mg tablets and that should last me 4-6 years depending on dose I settle on. .

Switch to Pitavastatin which does not affect insulin sensitivity but still lowers cholesterol like the other statins. This is what I do. You simply have to pay more or buy it from India or Shenzhen. Fortunately, the manufacturing plant for Pitavastatin is an hour drive north of where I live and the pharmacies around there sell it Indian cheap.

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You are mistaken. I have never said I didn’t like statins. Statins are an important drug class of great value. My point is what you said “every medication…has adversely consequences”. Many people do not consider that. Those adverse effects weigh heavier if the benefits are negligible.

My argument is not against the use of statins. It’s against using statins if they’re not adding a benefit.

Many people in the forum take statins because “normal” isn’t good enough.

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Thats an interesting question. I dont take statins. Setting up a poll may have merit.

Thanks for your response. I have used modafinil from time to time when I really need to focus on a project and get it done or at least make substantial progress. Contrary to your experience, it reduces my appetite, proving once again that individuals often react differently to a substance. I take it in the morning and start to feel great and focused about 40 minutes later. I stay in that zone for several hours, and then start to come down. The one drawback for me is the crash that comes later. Feel jittery and no longer able to work with much concentration; tired but takes longer than usual to get to sleep.

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Other than the appetite which seems we have opposite effects the rest is exactly the same. I wonder what the dose was you felt best? The highest I’ve used is 50mg and would like to increase it but I’m afraid I might start levitating and not being able to touch the ground again LOL

What does that mean? What is good enough?

I’d say good enough is less than 70 and ideally 50- 60. Mine was 124 last time I checked thus I’m taking Pita 1-2mg and Ezetimibe 5-10mg.

You have been a forum member for quite some time. You must have noticed in various threads that we have rehashed LDL-C and statin pros and cons and dosages ad nauseam. The lines were drawn on both sides, from Dr. Lipid suggesting as low as possible to Kausik K. Ray, MD et al.'s “literature-based meta-analysis did not find evidence for the benefit of statin therapy on all-cause mortality in a high-risk primary prevention setup.”

You can have the last word. I am putting this year’s long forum debate to rest as far as I am concerned.

I am following the theory that the LDL-C sweet spot is between >30 mg/dL and <70 mg/dL. And if you need statins to reach this level, that is for you to decide.

“LDL-C levels <70 mg/dL (<1.8 mmol/L) were linked to a 26% decreased risk of all-cause dementia and a 28% decreased risk of ADRD, compared with having LDL-C levels ≥130 mg/dL (≥3.4 mmol/L) in cohorts matched at 1:1 ratio”

"However, LDL-C levels <30 mg/dL (<0.8 mmol/L) did not exhibit reduced dementia risk compared with the LDL-C ≥130 mg/dL (≥3.4 mmol/L) group.

Our findings support the notion of an inverted J-shaped relationship, as we observed that LDL-C levels below 30 mg/dL (0.8 mmol/L) did not show a reduced risk of dementia compared with levels >130 mg/dL (>3.4 mmol/L), contrary to what is typically observed with LDL-C levels <55 mg/dL (<1.4 mmol/L) or 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L). This finding suggests that LDL-C levels <30 mg/dL (<0.8 mmol/L) do not significantly increase dementia risk."

Very Low LDL Levels Slash Dementia Risk - Statins Helpful

Video “How I Use Statins to Unclog Arteries” ~ Dr. Ford Brewer, MD. One thought is to use statins to prevent clogged arteries in the first place.

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The idea is that lipoproteins like Lp(a)-apoB, TRL-apoB, and LDL-apoB are causal factors for atherosclerosis and increases risk of ASCVD.

Further they are causal in a cumulative way, where decreasing levels earlier has a larger effect than later.

Normal levels can be anything from the 5th to the 95th percentile of these lipoproteins, depending on your age, the latter is actually just a measure of how much you’ve already accumulated from lipids or other related risks.

Normal is definitely not good enough – when genetic studies demonstrate the effects from decreasing from the normal, we’re talking about a reduction in lifetime CHD events. Your target depends on your overall risk profile, usually below 20th-5th percentile.

You don’t really need a big dose of LLT to get to the target if diet is low in SFA and high in PUFA at the same time.

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Sounds like a good idea. The risk of diabetes with pitavastatin is not zero but it’s relatively lower than other statins and it is somewhat low as far as muscle side effects.

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