Top in cardiology: Statin therapy vs. dietary supplements; Chinese herbal medicine

Last week, Healio provided live coverage of the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.

During the meeting, researchers presented data that showed rosuvastatin was associated with significantly greater reductions in LDL cholesterol compared with placebo and over-the-counter dietary supplements.

“What we saw was not necessarily surprising,” Luke J. Laffin, MD, told Healio. “Rosuvastatin lowered LDL by almost 38% and was vastly superior to any of the supplements and placebo. Additionally, supplements did not lower LDL cholesterol, inflammatory markers, total cholesterol or triglycerides any more than placebo. One of the surprising features was garlic actually increased cholesterol. This was sobering and I’m glad we have this data for the public.”

A review of the data was the top story in cardiology last week.

The second top story was based on another presentation at the conference about the potential benefits of tongxinluo, a traditional Chinese herbal medication, in reducing major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events after revascularization.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Statin therapy ‘vastly superior’ to common dietary supplements for cholesterol lowering

Daily rosuvastatin lowered LDL, total cholesterol and serum triglycerides significantly more than placebo and six common over-the-counter dietary supplements, with no supplement lowering LDL more than placebo, researchers reported. Read more.

Chinese herbal medicine may improve outcomes after STEMI

A drug derived from traditional Chinese medicine as an adjunct to guideline-directed therapy improved cardiovascular outcomes at 30 days and 1 year compared with placebo after revascularization, with no excess bleeding risk, a speaker reported. Read more.

‘Quadpill’ strategy may improve BP control vs. angiotensin receptor blocker monotherapy

An ultra-low-dose four-drug polypill may improve BP control among patients with hypertension, with no increased safety risk, compared with angiotensin receptor blocker monotherapy, according to a small, first-in-U.S. study. Read more.

Presence of severe marital stress tied to poor 1-year outcomes after acute MI

Severe marital stress was associated with reduced physical and mental health and increased all-cause readmission in the 1 year following acute myocardial infarction, a speaker reported. Read more.

Mindfulness may offer an ‘appealing approach’ to lower blood pressure

A mindfulness-based program adapted for individuals with elevated BP showed “potentially clinically relevant” reductions in systolic BP 6 months after participation, researchers reported. Read more.