"Longest study of its kind concludes current prescribing guidelines are correct and that statins show impressive benefits for men with high cholesterol levels  Statins https cut the risk of dying from heart disease by  among men according to the longest study of its kind. The year project examined data from  men taking part in a randomised clinical trial to test the effects of statins versus a placebo.  All the men had very high levels of LDL or bad cholesterol higher than .mmolL but had no evidence of heart disease at the start of the study.  Researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Glasgow found impressive results among those on statins who were given the widelyprescribed type pravastatin.  They found that compared with the placebo there was a  reduced risk of coronary heart disease a  reduced risk of dying from coronary heart disease and a  reduced risk of coronary events such as a heart attack.  There was also an  reduced risk of dying from any cause over the year period.  Senior author Professor Kausik Ray from Imperials School of Public Health https said For the first time we show that statins reduce the risk of death in this specific group of people who appear largely healthy except for very high LDL levels. This legitimises current guidelines which recommend treating this population with statins.  Ray said people with lower levels of cholesterol around mmolL who otherwise appear healthy should also be treated with statins.  Ray added This is the strongest evidence yet that statins reduce the risk of heart disease and death in men with high LDL.  Our study lends support to LDLs status as a major driver of heart disease risk and suggests that even modest LDL reductions might offer significant mortality benefits in the longterm.  Our analysis firmly establishes that controlling LDL over time translates to fewer deaths in this population.  Professor Sir Nilesh Samani medical director at the British Heart Foundation said This research further demonstrates the benefits of statins for people who have high levels of cholesterol in their blood.  It shows the enduring and longterm benefit of taking statins including the extent to which they reduce the risk of dying from heart disease which can only be seen in a study of this length.  The role of cholesterol in causing heart disease has been disputed by some but this paper provides yet more evidence of the link and the benefits of statins to prevent heart disease."