LONDON—A team of British doctors has suggested that offering free “sides” of statins at quick-serve restaurant (QSR) chains and other similar restaurants, alongside other complimentary items like ketchup and salt, as part of meals like burgers and milkshakes would help neutralize—or at least help minimize—the risk of eating unhealthy foods. As reported by Reuters Health, the doctors suggest such a move would be similar to the preventative act of wearing a seatbelt while driving or smoking cigarettes that have filters. A report detailing their analysis was published in the Aug. 15 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.
Statin drugs are taken to help lower cholesterol levels with the ultimate aim of helping prevent strokes and heart disease. Although a generic form of statin can be purchased over the counter in Great Britain, all statin drugs in are available only via a doctor’s prescription in the United States.
In the wake of their research, the doctors concluded that the risk reduction associated with daily consumption of most statins, with the notable exception of pravastatin, is more powerful than the risk increase caused by the daily extra fat intake associated with eating a 7-oz. cheeseburger and a small milkshake.
However, some experts suggest that handing out free cholesterol-lowering drugs with fast-food meals might not be the best approach to improving the health of regular QSR patrons. Peter Weissberg, medical director, the British Heart Foundation, said the idea posited by the doctors shouldn’t be taken too literally. Instead, he suggests people should focus on maintaining a good diet and exercising to help keep their hearts healthy. As he noted in the Reuters Health article: “Statins are a vital medicine for people with—or at high risk of developing—heart disease. They are not a magic bullet.”
Likewise, some health authorities believe that offering statins at QSR outlets might send the wrong message. Dr. Franz Messerli, director of the hypertension program at two New York hospitals, St. Luke’s and Roosevelt, told Reuters Health that providing complimentary statins to customers might imbue them with a false sense of security.
