From the NELA President: Myth Busters

Welcome to the Scientific Sessions issue of the LipidSpin — this year sponsored by the Northeast Lipid Association (NELA). We have had a lot of fun putting this issue together, and hope that you will enjoy reading this issue just as much.

The theme for this issue is “Debunking Common Myths in Clinical Lipidology.” The thought behind this theme was that we all (nurses, MDs, RDs, pharmacists, etc.) are regaled from time to time by well-meaning patients who have believed misinformation/disinformation, which they have picked up from various media sources. This may involve a dubious therapy, like chelation (see the EBM Tools for Practice article by Erik Kelly, MD, on page 14), or the unnecessary maligning of a proven therapy, like statins (see the Patient Tear Sheet by Merle Myerson, MD, FNLA, on page 37). In addition, Julie Bolick, RD, FNLA (Lipid Luminations – Page 16); Wahida  Karmally, RD, FNLA (Specialty  Corner – Page 18); and Frances Burke, RD (Practical Pearls – Page 21), help to clear up some nutritional confusion.

There are also topics more closely related to the field of lipidology that are in need of having a little light shed on them. These articles include the Clinical Feature by Scott Altmann, PhD, on Page 7; the Guest Editorial by Om Ganda, MD, on Page 11; and the Guest Review by Kenneth Kellick, PharmD, FNLA, on Page 25).

We hope you enjoy this issue of the LipidSpin, and hope that it helps in the future management of your patients. After all, isn’t that what we’re all about?