THE Irish Heart Foundation has criticised remarks by Dublin consultant Mr Maurice Neligan, who said he did not know what causes heart disease and knew of no health regime which guaranteed prevention.
The foundation said the views of Mr Neligan, a cardiac surgeon, were "totally at variance with all the evidence which has been accepted by all the major world agencies, including the World Health Organisation, the Surgeon General of the United States, all the international cardiac organisations such as the European Society of Cardiology and the International Society and Federation of Cardiology".
Prof Risteard Mulcahy said yesterday the examples used by Mr Neligan to support his contention that there are no effective preventive measures against heart disease were inaccurate.
One example, according to Prof Mulcahy, was Mr Neligan's observation that the Japanese smoke as much as we do, yet have a low rate of heart disease. "What's missing from that statement is that the Japanese also have low cholesterols and a low saturated fat intake in their diet. Therefore, they're lacking the key factor which causes heart disease - an abnormal cholesterol level."
He said the timing of Mr Neligan's remarks was unfortunate as the Irish Heart Foundation's Healthy Heart Weekend occurs in a week's time.