Democratic VP candidate Bentsen
Executive Summary
Aug. 15 letter from Bentsen's attending physician on the candidate's health includes a paragraph on the effect of recent treatment with Merck's Mevacor. Antonio Gotto, MD, reported that Bentsen was recommended to take a "a small dosage" of lovastatin (20 mg daily) beginning in April of this year to supplement a dietary effort to reduce a to reduce a cholesterol level of 245 mg/dl and an LDL value of 155 mg/dl. "Because of your schedule and difficulty in maintaining strict dietary adherence," Gotto told Bentsen, "we elected to begin a trial of a low dose of lovastatin . . . After approximately one month, the cholesterol was reduced to 200 mg/dl and LDL-cholesterol to 101 mg/dl." Gotto commented that "I am very pleased with this response"