A story in Men’s Journal explores the question of how people who use statins such as Lipitor should react to a recent study indicating that the cholesterol-lowering drugs may counteract the benefits of exercise.
The study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looked at a group of overweight, sedentary adults at risk of high cholesterol or high blood pressure. After a 12-week exercise program, a group of participants using statins had seen an improvement in aerobic fitness of only 1.5 percent. A control group that wasn’t taking a statin, meanwhile, saw a 10 percent improvement.
This isn’t the first time health concerns have cropped up about statins. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has added warnings to the labels of Lipitor and other types of statins, advising that they may increase blood sugar, and therefore the risk of Type II diabetes.
The Men’s Journal article includes a quote from John Thyfault, senior author of the study addressing statins’ impact on exercise.
Thyfault says: “Our research suggests that statins block exercise’s ability to increase mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cell and where oxygen is consumed and converted to energy so that muscles can contract. Typically, exercise increases mitochondrial content in muscle, which allows for improved fitness.”
The reason the results are so concerning, Thyfault says, is that an increasing amount of research suggests that fitness is the most important single factor for controlling the risk of disease and mortality.
Thyfault suggests that people think twice before taking statins if their cholesterol isn’t high, or even if it’s borderline.
Patients should consult their doctors before making any changes in their medication. A consultation with a Lipitor lawyer is also important if there are significant injuries.
See the story here:
https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/health/a-cardio-conundrum-20130528
