[oceanic]

Catalyst, an excellent science program on the ABC [1], Australia's national broadcaster, has just had a two-part episode called "The Heart of the Matter", about the science (or lack of it) behind the cholesterol theory.

The researcher Dr Maryanne Demasi[2], herself a research pathologist, has spent three years gathering data, interviewing researchers, scientists and doctors on both sides of the argument, and the show has caused major ripples throughout the medical profession in Australia [3].

The two episodes are on YouTube in full [4] [5] and the transcripts are on the ABC website [6] [7].

For anyone interested in this topic, these shows are HIGHLY recommended.

[1] http://www.abc.net.au

[2] http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/team/maryannedemasi.htm?site=...

[3] http://www.6minutes.com.au/news/latest-news/expert-takes-aim...

[4] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDVf-00w5gk

[5] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAKaM330xzg

[6] http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3876219.htm

[7] http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/3881441.htm

[simplexion]

Don't bother with the first episode. It is full of nonsense, including a naturopath as an "expert". The second episode regarding statins is far more evidence-based.

[oceanic]

I think the stuff about the effects of high sugar and high carbohydrate diets in the first episode is pretty solid.

Which one is the naturopath?

[simplexion]

The "Nutritionist"

[voltagex_]

I'm not sure Catalyst is excellent anymore - it's certainly not as good as when it was called Quantum. That particular episode has been extremely divisive and for me personally I'm not sure what to take from it at all.

[oceanic]

I agree it's tough trying to glean facts from the media now. Everyone seems to have a vested interest.

However, when you consider that pharmaceutical companies in the US pay doctors (not always directly for prescribing their drugs, but close enough), and also fund most of the research in the US, Australia and probably most other countries, that seems a much stronger candidate for bias than a science researcher who is trying to tell a story on a not-for-profit TV network.

There are plenty of medical "breakthroughs" throughout history that have come from people who were initially branded as heretics/crazies but who eventually were proved correct. Germ theory, antibiotics, anaesthesia etc.