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| Slow blood flow 'hampers statins' | Slow blood flow 'hampers statins' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Slow blood flow in areas of the body's arteries may reduce the protective effect of statins, research suggests. | Slow blood flow in areas of the body's arteries may reduce the protective effect of statins, research suggests. |
| The study suggests sluggish blood flow tends to hinder statins' ability to trigger production of beneficial antioxidant molecules. | The study suggests sluggish blood flow tends to hinder statins' ability to trigger production of beneficial antioxidant molecules. |
| The body's own protective mechanisms also tend to fail in the same areas - leaving them vulnerable to damage. | The body's own protective mechanisms also tend to fail in the same areas - leaving them vulnerable to damage. |
| The Imperial College London study is featured in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. | The Imperial College London study is featured in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. |
| It raises hopes of new ways to improve general artery health. | It raises hopes of new ways to improve general artery health. |
| Those regions of the arteries most likely to become diseased are the same regions that may not be benefiting maximally from statin treatment - a double whammy Dr Justin MasonImperial College London | Those regions of the arteries most likely to become diseased are the same regions that may not be benefiting maximally from statin treatment - a double whammy Dr Justin MasonImperial College London |
| Statins are estimated to save nearly 10,000 lives a year in England alone by cutting the risk of cardiovascular disease. | Statins are estimated to save nearly 10,000 lives a year in England alone by cutting the risk of cardiovascular disease. |
| Their primary action is to lower levels of harmful LDL cholesterol which can clog up the arteries. | Their primary action is to lower levels of harmful LDL cholesterol which can clog up the arteries. |
| However, they are also thought to stimulate production of beneficial antioxidants in the cells of the arteries by boosting levels of a key enzyme, called heme oxygenase (HO-1). | However, they are also thought to stimulate production of beneficial antioxidants in the cells of the arteries by boosting levels of a key enzyme, called heme oxygenase (HO-1). |
| Antioxidant potency | Antioxidant potency |
| The Imperial team investigated the antioxidant potency of statins in different parts of the circulation by measuring the amount of HO-1 in the endothelial cells that line the arteries. | The Imperial team investigated the antioxidant potency of statins in different parts of the circulation by measuring the amount of HO-1 in the endothelial cells that line the arteries. |
| They found the increase in HO-1 induced by the statin was significantly higher in cells exposed to fast and regular blood flow than in cells where blood flow was sluggish or disrupted. | They found the increase in HO-1 induced by the statin was significantly higher in cells exposed to fast and regular blood flow than in cells where blood flow was sluggish or disrupted. |
| Previous research has shown endothelial cells produce protective biological signals in parts of the artery where blood flow is fast to counter the build up of fatty cholesterol deposits. | Previous research has shown endothelial cells produce protective biological signals in parts of the artery where blood flow is fast to counter the build up of fatty cholesterol deposits. |
| But the cells do not react in the same way in areas where blood flow is sluggish. | But the cells do not react in the same way in areas where blood flow is sluggish. |
| The latest study reveals that statins fail to work well in exactly the same areas where the body's natural defences are weak. | The latest study reveals that statins fail to work well in exactly the same areas where the body's natural defences are weak. |
| Researcher Dr Justin Mason said: "Arteries don't clog up in a uniform way. | Researcher Dr Justin Mason said: "Arteries don't clog up in a uniform way. |
| "Bends and branches of blood vessels - where blood flow is disrupted and can be sluggish - are much more prone to fatty plaques building-up and blocking the artery. | "Bends and branches of blood vessels - where blood flow is disrupted and can be sluggish - are much more prone to fatty plaques building-up and blocking the artery. |
| "What we have shown is that those regions of the arteries most likely to become diseased are the same regions that may not be benefiting maximally from statin treatment - a double whammy." | "What we have shown is that those regions of the arteries most likely to become diseased are the same regions that may not be benefiting maximally from statin treatment - a double whammy." |
| The research team hopes to find other ways to get the most out of statins, or to find other ways to switch on protective mechanisms in vulnerable areas of arteries. | |
| Dr Faisal Ali, who also worked on the study, said: "We wanted to model blood flow because cells lining our veins and arteries are constantly exposed to the flow of blood. | |
| "This alters their behaviour, how they respond, both to natural signals and to the drugs that we will take at one time or another." | |
| Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said: "This research demonstrates how the physical forces inside blood vessels may influence the local action of drugs such as statins. | Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, which funded the study, said: "This research demonstrates how the physical forces inside blood vessels may influence the local action of drugs such as statins. |
| "The findings open avenues of investigation that could lead to greater health benefits of statins' being realised." | "The findings open avenues of investigation that could lead to greater health benefits of statins' being realised." |