Vioxx Impedes Ability to Purge Excess Cholesterol?
The Journal of Arthritis Research & Therapy has publish an article that states a reason as to why painkillers known as COX-2 inhibitors, of which Vioxx is one, may lead to heart attacks. Researchers at Winthrop-University Hospital in Long Island have determined that they may prevent the body from succesfully purging excess cholesterol. The authors write: “Our results suggest that the cardiovascular hazard observed with COX inhibitors may result not only from enhanced platelet aggregation [blood clots], but also from interference with cholesterol outflow. Increased cardiovascular risk with COX inhibition may be ascribed at least in part to altered cholesterol metabolism.”