Confronting the 'cholesterol quacks': How to respond to patients who say statins are a scam
Industry Buzz
There are cholesterol quacks out there, some as smart as they are duplicitous, telling lies about cholesterol and statins, talking thousands of people into ignoring their dangerously high cholesterol.
—Evan S. Levine, MD, FACC
Some patients are being convinced that high cholesterol isn’t dangerous—and that statins are a scam. In a recent TikTok video, cardiologist Evan Levine, MD, FACC, called out what he describes as a growing industry of anti-statin “experts,” while urging clinicians to stop letting misinformation drive care.
“There are cholesterol quacks out there—some as smart as they are duplicitous—telling lies about cholesterol and statins, talking thousands of people into ignoring their dangerously high cholesterol," he said.
The playbook isn’t new: Sow doubt, stoke fear, and then sell supplements instead of evidence-based therapy. Dr. Levine shared examples from his own practice: a patient with LDL well above 250 mg/dL declining treatment, another following a naturopath who promotes unregulated supplements like red yeast rice.
Statin mistrust equals preventable harm
Statin hesitancy remains widespread, even among patients at high risk.
Dr. Levine recounts receiving a one-star “worst doctor ever” review from a patient who objected to his recommendation for treatment, despite a cholesterol level over 300 mg/dL.
Other physicians have told him they’d rather avoid the confrontation entirely. But silence, he warns, has consequences.
"Don't be afraid of poor ratings or being berated," Dr. Levine said. "We need to push back on these profiteers."
So what can cardiologists do?
Dr. Levine’s call to action is to advocate—loudly and consistently—amid misinformation fatigue. But pushing back doesn’t have to mean confrontation.
Actionable takeaways
Explain risk visually: Show the parallels between LDL reduction and event reduction.
Normalize statins: Compare them to other standard preventive therapies.
Provide structured options for intolerance: Recommend dose adjustment, alternative agents, nutraceuticals as adjuncts, not replacements.
Debunk supplement myths succinctly: For instance, tell patients, “Red yeast rice may be chemically similar to a statin—just in a weaker, unregulated form.”
Reassure patients about reviews: Advocate for clinic policies that contextualize ratings when needed.
Above all, keep initiating the conversation—even if it feels repetitive.
Read Next: New research: High BP quietly ages the brain—decades before dementia