Dr. Ford Brewer MD MPH · 2026-07-30 · Ford Brewer (host), Jesus Vega, Olivia, Sam, Matthew, Tom, Mark

Stop Chasing Your Cholesterol Number And Look At Your Arteries!

19 research-tied claims examined: 2 contradicted 2 overstated 7 context 8 supported

Contradicted by research

0:21:01 Ford Brewer (host)contradictedhigh

Research by Paul Ridker and colleagues demonstrated that low doses of statins are as effective at reducing inflammation as higher doses.

"The lower doses do actually it's been proven by some smart guys at Harvard, Paul Ridker, Gavin Blake, that the low doses of the statins do just as well at decreasing inflammation." (said at 0:21:01)

Research led by Paul Ridker and colleagues shows that intensive, higher-dose statin therapy is significantly more effective at reducing markers of inflammation (such as C-reactive protein, or CRP) than lower- or standard-dose therapy. In a secondary analysis of the PROVE-IT TIMI-22 randomized trial (PMID 15893181) examining 3,745 patients, high-dose atorvastatin (80 mg daily) was substantially superior to standard-dose pravastatin (40 mg daily) at achieving anti-inflammatory target thresholds: 44% of patients receiving high-dose atorvastatin achieved a CRP level <2 mg/L compared to only 11% of patients receiving standard-dose pravastatin. Thus, lower doses do not perform 'just as well' as higher doses at lowering systemic inflammation.

contradicts: Relative efficacy of atorvastatin 80 mg and pravastatin 40 mg in achieving the dual goals … (Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2005) · cited 235x in the literature
"Only 11% allocated pravastatin and 44% allocated atorvastatin achieved the goals of LDL-C <70 mg/dl and CRP <2 mg/l, and only 5.8% allocated pravastatin 40 mg and 26.1% allocated atorvastatin 80 mg reached the even lower goals of LDL-C <70 mg/dl and CRP <1 mg/l." (abstract, results)
pubmed full study (doi)

1:02:10 Ford Brewer (host)contradictedmoderate

Ubiquinol is more bioavailable than ubiquinone and is better utilized by the body, especially in older adults.

"If you're young, there's a bioavailability issue. If you're young, either one is fine, and ubiquinone is even okay. The other form though is a little bit more bioavailable. If you're young, it's not again so much of an issue. But if you're 50, 55, 60, and especially 69 like me and 65 like a lot of folks that are listeners, the more expensive brand is a little bit more—or not brand, but form—the ubiquinol is a better buy long term because your body can actually use it." (said at 1:02:10)

The claim that ubiquinol is necessary or substantially better utilized than ubiquinone in older adults because their bodies cannot use ubiquinone is contradicted by clinical evidence. A randomized crossover study in older adults (aged 65–74) showed that ingested ubiquinone is effectively converted to ubiquinol in the bloodstream, resulting in no difference in circulating CoQ10 redox status between forms. Furthermore, the single-dose bioavailability of ubiquinol capsules was not significantly superior to standard ubiquinone capsules (p = 0.129). Formulation technology (such as water-soluble or solubilized carrier lipids), rather than whether the CoQ10 is ingested as ubiquinone or ubiquinol, is the primary determinant of absorption.

contradicts: Comparative Bioavailability of Different Coenzyme Q10 Formulations in Healthy Elderly Indi… (Nutrients 2020) · cited 56x in the literature
"while the bioavailability of ubiquinol (CP) was not significantly increased (1.7-fold; 95% CI: 0.9-3.1, p = 0.129). No differences in the redox status of the absorbed coenzyme Q10 were observed between formulations, showing that CoQ10 appeared in the blood mostly as ubiquinol, even if consumed as ubiquinone." (abstract, results, passage verified)
pubmed full study (doi)

Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.