Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomised trials

Researchers combined 26 randomized trials, where people were assigned treatments by chance, involving about 170,000 adults. The trials compared statin drugs with usual care or placebo, and stronger statin treatment with weaker treatment. LDL cholesterol, often called bad cholesterol, was lowered more by the stronger treatments. Each reduction of about 39 points in LDL cholesterol was linked to roughly one-fifth fewer major heart and blood-vessel problems. Stronger treatment lowered these problems by about 15% compared with weaker treatment, without clear increases in cancer or other major harms.

What this means for you: This supports using prescribed statins to lower heart attack and stroke risk, especially for people at higher risk. It tested statin medicines, not cholesterol supplements, and the strongest dose is not automatically right for everyone.