Malcolm Kendrick

[[File:Malcolm Kendrick.png|thumb|right|165px|Malcolm Kendrick (left) with {{wpl|Michael R. Eades}}]]
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{{cquote|I don't happen to think that saturated fats are in any way damaging or dangerous. [[Appeal to nature|If they were, they wouldn't taste so damn delicious]]. Nature tends to warn us off dangerous foods by making them taste bitter and icky.|||Malcolm Kendrick<ref name="book">[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qaMCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT31&lpg=PT31&dq=%22Nature+tends+to+warn+us+off+dangerous+foods+by+making+them+taste+bitter+and+icky%22&source=bl&ots=vw2kpZGizp&sig=PTEaGYh0k9GmtlTW2E4z5vN0lOY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjx0o6i9MffAhXvTxUIHeFKCu8Q6AEwAHoECAAQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22Nature%20tends%20to%20warn%20us%20off%20dangerous%20foods%20by%20making%20them%20taste%20bitter%20and%20icky%22&f=false The Great Cholesterol Con]</ref>}}

{{cquote|Saturated fat has no impact on cardiovascular disease. Never has, never will.|||Malcolm Kendrick<ref name="saturated fat"/>}}

'''Malcolm Kendrick''' is a Scottish General Practitioner (GP), [[conspiracy theorist]] author, [[cholesterol denialist]] and [[low-carb diet]] advocate who has spent decades promoting the [[Atkins diet]] and more recently the [[carnivore diet]].<ref name="Atkins"/><ref name="Baker">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ImChSajHik Dr Malcolm Kendrick]. Dr. Shawn Baker Podcast.</ref><ref name="Saladino">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpN4rm31vLk What really causes heart disease with Malcolm Kendrick]. CarnivoreMD.</ref> He is best known for his controversial claim that {{wpl|low-density lipoprotein}} (LDL) and total blood cholesterol levels do not increase the risk of heart disease. This is despite the fact that consistent evidence from numerous types of clinical and genetic studies has unequivocally established that LDL causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.<ref>[https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5837225/ Low-density lipoproteins cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 1. Evidence from genetic, epidemiologic, and clinical studies. A consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel]. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.</ref>

Kendrick dislikes the medical community and argues against the use of statins.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/23/statins-not-wonder-drug-major-diseases Statins aren't a wonder drug by Malcolm Kendrick]</ref><ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1867901/ Should women be offered cholesterol lowering drugs to prevent cardiovascular disease? No]. "Not only do statins fail to provide any overall health benefit in women, they represent a massive financial drain on health services".</ref><ref>[http://archive.vn/vLNzA The deadly propaganda of the statin deniers: The drugs DO protect you from heart attacks but as this devastating investigation reveals thousands are refusing them]</ref> Kendrick is associated with the pseudoscientific [[Institute for Natural Healing]] and writes articles for the [[RT]] network. He is a leading figure in the cholesterol denialist movement. In 2022, Kendrick appeared on carnivore diet podcasts hosted by [[Shawn Baker]] and [[Paul Saladino]].<ref name="Baker"/><ref name="Saladino"/>

As of 2024, Kendrick is a writer for an organization that calls itself The Broken Science Initiative.<ref>[https://brokenscience.org/author/malcolmkendrick/ Malcolm Kendrick]. brokenscience.org.</ref> He promotes a conspiracy that he has been targeted because of his anti-statin views.<ref name="conspiracy">[https://brokenscience.org/kendrick-harcombe-trial-the-conspiracy/ Kendrick/Harcombe Trial: The Conspiracy]. brokenscience.org. [https://archive.is/zZm2o Archived].</ref>

==Biography==

Kendrick is a GP based in Macclesfield, Cheshire.<ref>[https://healthytraditions.com/healthytraditions/books/alternative-health-books/the-great-cholesterol-con.html The Great Cholesterol Con by Malcolm Kendrick]</ref> He is a member of [[THINCS]] (The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics), a [[fringe]] [[think tank]] that disputes the role of cholesterol in cardiovascular disease.<ref name="Hall">[https://www.csicop.org/si/show/statin_denialism Statin Denialism]</ref> He is the author of ''The Great Cholesterol Con''.

Kendrick has a few [[peer-reviewed]] papers published.<ref>[https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/2110207300_Malcolm_Kendrick Research Gate list of publications for Malcolm Kendrick]</ref> In 2016, Kendrick and other colleagues published a [[Review article|systematic review]] to examine how low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with mortality in older adults. They concluded that "High LDL-C is inversely associated with mortality in most people over 60 years" and since "elderly people with high LDL-C live as long or longer than those with low LDL-C, our analysis provides reason to question the validity of the cholesterol hypothesis."<ref>Kendrick, M. ''et al''. [https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/6/e010401.full "Lack of an association or an inverse association between low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and mortality in the elderly: a systematic review"].</ref> The review was criticized for [[cherry picking]] data and [[confirmation bias]]. Nine of the authors are members of THINCS. The [[National Health Service]] website observes that "the review searched only a single literature database, excluded studies only available in non-English languages, and excluded studies where the title and abstract did not appear to contain information on the link between LDL and mortality in older adults."<ref>[https://www.nhs.uk/news/heart-and-lungs/study-says-theres-no-link-between-cholesterol-and-heart-disease/ "Study says there's no link between cholesterol and heart disease"]</ref> Medical experts rejected the review's suggestions. Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, commented that "there is nothing in the current paper to support the authors' suggestions that the studies they reviewed cast doubt on the idea that LDL cholesterol is a major cause of heart disease or that guidelines on LDL reduction in the elderly need re-evaluating."<ref>[https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/behind-the-headlines/cholesterol-and-statins "Flawed cholesterol study makes headlines"]</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-systematic-review-reporting-lack-of-an-association-between-ldl-cholesterol-and-mortality-in-the-elderly/ "Expert reaction to systematic review reporting lack of an association between LDL cholesterol and mortality in the elderly"].</ref>

Kendrick sits on the Medical Advisory Board for the [[Institute for Natural Healing]] (INH), a pseudoscientific [[cancer woo]] organization.<ref>[https://www.institutefornaturalhealing.com/advisory-board/ Meet the INH Medical Advisory Board]</ref> The website advertises unproven cancer cures and promotes dubious [[vitamin and mineral supplements]].<ref>[https://www.institutefornaturalhealing.com/about-us/ The Institute for Natural Healing]</ref><ref>[https://badsciencedebunked.com/2014/09/12/better-than-chemo-huh/ Better Than Chemo, or a Modern Snake Oil Sale?]</ref> According to the INH "Natural treatments—even cures—for cancer are all around us. They’re readily available to those who know about them. But they’re actively hidden by [[Big Pharma]], the [[FDA]], and mainstream medicine."<ref>[https://www.institutefornaturalhealing.com/natural-cancer-cures-keeping/ What Natural Cancer Cures Are “They” Keeping From You?]</ref> 

In June 2022, Kendrick was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had radiotherapy.<ref>[https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2022/06/06/a-bit-of-a-pause/ A bit of a pause]. Malcolm Kendrick. [https://archive.is/5AhZp Archived].</ref>

==Claims==
{{cquote|Medical [[scientists]] (an [[oxymoron]] if ever there was one), have a long and distinguished history of grabbing entirely the wrong end of the stick, closing their eyes tightly shut, holding on grimly and refusing to listen to anybody else.|||Malcolm Kendrick, medical scientist hater<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qaMCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT12&dq=%22Medical+scientists+(an+oxymoron+if+ever+there+was+one%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjplqjkgsjfAhWExYUKHfXJC-4QuwUIMDAB#v=onepage&q=%22Medical%20scientists%20(an%20oxymoron%20if%20ever%20there%20was%20one%22&f=false  The Great Cholesterol Con]</ref>}}

According to Kendrick:<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qaMCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT13&dq=%22the+time+you+have+read+this+book,+you+will+be+convinced+that+I+am+right%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjljJK698ffAhXzThUIHRiRD4MQuwUIKzAA#v=onepage&q=%22the%20time%20you%20have%20read%20this%20book%2C%20you%20will%20be%20convinced%20that%20I%20am%20right%22&f=false The Great Cholesterol Con]</ref>

*A high-fat diet has no impact on blood cholesterol levels.
*High cholesterol levels do not cause or increase the risk of heart disease.
*Statins do not protect against heart disease by lowing cholesterol levels.
*The protection provided by statins is so small it is not worth bothering with.
*Statins have many negative side effects including [[death]] and creation of deformed babies.
*All medical experts should be ignored as they are paid large sums of money from statin manufacturers.
*The only expert that should be listened to is Malcolm Kendrick.

In ''The Great Cholesterol Con'' (2008), he argues the above claims but fails to back this up with reliable scientific [[evidence]]. It has an irresponsible chapter titled "Eat whatever you like (Diet has nothing to do with heart disease)". Kendrick is not a dietician and lacks education in nutrition. The book makes the following arrogant statement in regard to the above claims:
{{quotebox|You may not think it now. But by the time you have read this book, you will be convinced that I am right, and everyone else is wrong.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qaMCAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT13&dq=%22+But+by+the+time+you+have+read+this+book,+you+will+be+convinced%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9uc2AkMjfAhUBtHEKHUhlDg8Q6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=%22%20But%20by%20the%20time%20you%20have%20read%20this%20book%2C%20you%20will%20be%20convinced%22&f=false The Great Cholesterol Con]</ref>}}

So the entire medical community is wrong and Kendrick is right.{{lie}}

Kendrick continues his crusade against medical scientists in his book ''A Statin Nation: Damaging Millions in a Brave New Post-Health World'' (2018). Contrary to what Kendrick has written, clinical and genetic studies have revealed that high blood cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart disease.<ref>[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28444290 Low-density lipoproteins cause atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. 1. Evidence from genetic, epidemiologic, and clinical studies. A consensus statement from the European Atherosclerosis Society Consensus Panel]</ref><ref>[https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/high-cholesterol High Cholesterol]</ref> [[Harriet Hall]] has written that Kendrick and others from [[THINCS]] "cherry-pick the scientific literature to find studies that support their theses, ignore the flaws in those studies, and ignore the vast body of literature that contradicts them."<ref name="Hall"/>

===Atkins diet===
{{cquote|A high fat diet reduces VLDL, raises HDL and may even lower LDL. And a high carbohydrate diet does the exact opposite. In short, the metabolism does exactly what you would expect it to. So you see. Atkins was right all along.|||Malcolm Kendrick, Atkins fanatic.<ref name="Atkins">[https://archive.vn/yrz7c Why the Atkins Diet is Healthy]. Malcolm Kendrick.</ref>}} 

Kendrick has endorsed a low-carb, high-fat diet ([[LCHF]]). He has spent years promoting the Atkins diet.<ref name="Atkins"/>

He has written numerous articles supporting Atkins; one of these was titled "ATKINS AND THE FIRST LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS" for [[THINCS]] which concluded "the reality about the Atkins diet is that, firstly, it works for many people. Secondly, it does not cause any health problems, as far as I'm concerned".<ref name="Atkins"/> Another article he wrote was "WHY THE ATKINS DIET IS HEALTHY".<ref name="Atkins"/> 

In 2024, Kendrick in response to his [[RationalWiki]] article claimed he has never promoted the Atkins diet:

{{quotebox|I have never actively promoted the Atkins diet. Although I have always believed it to be perfectly healthy. Certainly, far healthier than most people currently eat. Crispy Crème donuts, anyone?<ref name="conspiracy"/>}}

===Carnivore diet===

Kendrick has supported the [[carnivore diet]] for over a decade. In 2013 he commented:

{{quotebox|Our GI systems are, basically, the same as carnivores. We cannot digest most carbs – unless they are cooked first. It seems the most obvious common sense that eating other animals is going to be healthy. it is what we are designed to do.<ref>[https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2013/10/20/sweden-gets-is-right/ Sweden gets it right]. [https://archive.is/3H25e Archived].</ref>}}

He has appeared on carnivore diet podcasts with [[Shawn Baker]] and [[Paul Saladino]].<ref name="Baker"/><ref name="Saladino"/>

===Saturated fat===

Kendrick states that consumption of [[saturated fat]] has no link with cardiovascular disease or any other chronic disease.<ref name="book"/> In September 2022, Kendrick stated:

{{quotebox|I suppose that what I am about to tell you is pretty much old hat. Many people, including me, have been saying – for many years – that saturated fat has no impact on cardiovascular disease. Never has, never will. The scientific support for it has always been non-existent, and the hypothesis has always been complete fact-free, evidence-free, thought-free, nonsense.<ref name="saturated fat">[https://archive.vn/Zr34HS Saturated fat]. Malcolm Kendrick.</ref>}}

===COVID-19===

Kendrick dislikes the UK lockdown for the [[2019-20 COVID-19 outbreak]] and has argued it will cause significantly more deaths.<ref name="RT 1"/><ref>[https://www.rt.com/op-ed/485513-uk-government-covid-lockdown/ The UK govt needs to start telling us the truth on Covid-19; lockdown is NOT a way of beating the virus]</ref>

==Conspiracy theories==
{{main|Conspiracy theories}}
Kendrick's personal blog and books are filled with [[Big Pharma]] and [[government]] [[conspiracy theories]]. He also thinks a group of [[vegan]] activists deleted his [[Wikipedia]] article and are targeting other high-fat advocates.<ref name="Wikipedia">[https://web.archive.org/web/20181230173454/https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2018/12/18/wikipedia-a-parable-for-our-times/  Wikipedia a parable for our times]</ref><ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Malcolm_Kendrick The discussion on deleting the Wikipedia Malcolm Kendrick article]</ref>

He claims anyone that promotes a high fat low carbohydrate diet is somehow "silenced" around the world.<ref name="Wikipedia"/><ref>[https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2016/11/13/those-who-promote-a-high-fat-low-carbohydrate-diet-are-silenced-around-the-world/ Those who promote a high fat low carbohydrate diet are silenced around the world]</ref>

Kendrick has found a home as a contributor to the English language website of the Russian [[RT]] television network.<ref name="RT 1">[https://www.rt.com/op-ed/485110-covid-19-lockdown-deaths/ As a GP, I fear our Covid-19 lockdown will result in significantly more deaths than we are trying to prevent]. [https://archive.is/YTyKE Archived].</ref><ref>[https://www.rt.com/op-ed/491324-post-lockdown-health-catastrophe-post-soviet-era/ Remember how public health COLLAPSED after Soviet Union fell? I fear West will see same due to post-lockdown economic CATASTROPHE]</ref>

===Lawsuit===

In February 2020, Kendrick and [[Zoë Harcombe]] filed a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited (the owner of ''[[Daily Mail]]'') and Barney Calman the Mail on Sunday Health Editor for defamation.<ref>https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2022/543.html</ref> Calman and Associated Newspapers Limited had authored several poorly sourced and sensationalist articles criticizing the statin denialism of Harcombe and Kendrick.<ref name="Judgement">[https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Harcombe-v-ANL-2024-EWHC-1523-FINAL-for-hand-down.pdf  QB-2020-000799]. judiciary.uk.</ref> One of these published by the ''Daily Mail'' was titled "The deadly propaganda of statin deniers: The drugs DO protect you from heart attacks but as this devastating investigation reveals thousands are refusing them".<ref>[http://archive.vn/vLNzA The deadly propaganda of the statin deniers: The drugs DO protect you from heart attacks but as this devastating investigation reveals thousands are refusing them]</ref> Calman had authored an editorial "There is a special place in hell for the doctors who claim statins don’t work".<ref name="Judgement"/> A special report published in ''The Mail on Sunday'' titled "Deadly propaganda of the statin deniers" profiled Kendrick with a photograph of him.<ref name="Judgement"/>

In April 2022, Harcombe and Kendrick's trials were split.<ref>[https://www.wiggin.co.uk/insight/high-court-considers-impact-of-curistan-v-times-newspapers-on-deciding-preliminary-issues-of-meaning-and-fact-opinion-in-defamation-case-where-qualified-privilege-defence-pleaded/ High Court considers impact of Curistan v Times Newspapers on deciding preliminary issues of meaning and fact/opinion in defamation case where qualified privilege defence pleaded]</ref><ref>[https://www.matrixlaw.co.uk/judgments/split-trials-granted-in-complex-libel-claim-against-associated-newspapers/ Split Trial Granted In Complex Libel Claim Against Associated Newspapers]</ref> The defendants argued for honest opinion, truth and publication on a matter of public interest pursuant to the Defamation Act 2013.<ref name="Judgement"/> According to a summary of the preliminary trial judgment in June 2024:

{{quotebox|The judge also observed that, in consequence of his findings, the Defendants’ defences of truth and honest opinion as advanced in the Defence could not be maintained. Further case management directions would be required once the parties had had an opportunity to reflect on the contents of the judgment.<ref>[https://www.5rb.com/news/harcombe-kendrick-preliminary-trial-judgment/ Harcombe / Kendrick preliminary trial judgment]</ref>}}

The articles written by Calman and Associated Newspapers Limited were poorly written and contained no scientific references. It was a lawsuit waiting to happen. As of 12 October 2024 the lawsuit resulted in an apology being issued to Kendrick and Harcombe with agreement to pay costs and damages. The ''Daily Mail'' have since removed the article from their website.<ref>[https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/article-13953629/Dr-Zo-Harcombe-PhD-Dr-Malcolm-Kendrick-Apology.html Dr Zoe Harcombe PhD and Dr Malcolm Kendrick – Apology]</ref>

===Conspiracy theory about ''Daily Mail'' article===

Kendrick has argued that there is a conspiracy theory to crush anyone critical of statins and that Barney Calman's article was part of the conspiracy to silence him:

{{quotebox|To my mind there can be no doubt that a powerful conspiracy was brought into existence to crush me, and Zoë, under a rock...

I was fully aware there was a long-standing conspiracy going on to crush anyone critical of statins. This is not restricted to the UK. I had been waiting for this attack for many years, and I knew precisely where it would originate. One of the main reasons I sued for libel was to expose those working behind the scenes…hopefully.

The irony, of course, is that I am being accused of being part of some great ill-defined conspiracy to do something or other, somehow or other, for some reason or other. In reality, the conspiracy exists entirely on the other side. You think not? You think that this was not a conspiracy?<ref name="conspiracy"/>}}

===Naming names part of the conspiracy===

In October 2024, Kendrick on his website authored an article "The legal case – naming a few names".<ref name="The Legal case">[https://archive.is/lOa1f The legal case – naming a few names]. drmalcolmkendrick.org.</ref> In the article he published emails written by Barney Calman and Sir Rory Collins taken from what he says are Court Disclosures. Kendrick alleges that these emails belong to a secret group of academics who are "working hard in the background" to destroy his reputation.<ref name="The Legal case"/>

==Selected publications==

*''The Great Cholesterol Con: The Truth About What Really Causes Heart Disease and How to Avoid It'' (2008)
*''Doctoring Data: How to Sort Out Medical Advice from Medical Nonsense'' (2015)
*''A Statin Nation - Damaging Millions in a Brave New Post-Health World'' (2018)
*''The Clot Thickens: The enduring mystery of heart disease'' (2021)

==See also==
{{collist|2|
*[[Zoë Harcombe]]
*[[Aseem Malhotra]]
*[[Marika Sboros]]
*[[Gary Taubes]]}}

==External links==
*[https://drmalcolmkendrick.org/ Dr. Malcolm Kendrick]
*[http://carbsanity.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-great-cholesterol-con-artist.html The Great Cholesterol Con-Artist: Malcolm Kendrick]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kendrick, Malcolm}}
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Carnivore diet promoters]]
[[Category:Cholesterol and statin denialists]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Food woo promoters]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Low-carb fanatics]]
[[Category:Pissed at us]]
[[Category:Physicians]]

Categories: Authors, Carnivore diet promoters, Cholesterol and statin denialists, Conspiracy theories, Food woo promoters, Living people, Low-carb fanatics, Pissed at us, Physicians