Higher Diabetes Risk from Statins

When compared to a placebo, statin therapy greatly decreases cardiovascular events for those people with or without a history of diabetes mellitus. However, high does of these drugs remarkably increases the risk of onset for diabetes.

Researchers from University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, analyzed the correlation of intensive dose statin therapy verses moderate dose therapy with the development of diabetes and the rates of major cardiovascular events by conducting a meta-analysis of both published and non-published information from applicable clinical trials.

Researchers had found five statin trails that met the requirements to be included in the analysis.

These trails had given information on 32,752 non-diabetic participants over an average follow-up of 4.9 years. At the time of the follow-up 2,749 participants (8.4%) had developed diabetes. Among participants 1,149 had intensive dose therapy, 1300 moderate dose therapy and 6,684 (20.4%) had experienced a cardiovascular event. Among those participants who experienced the cardiovascular event, 3,134 had intensive dose therapy with the remaining 3,350 participants having moderate dose therapy.

The study had revealed 149 more cases of diabetes incident among participants who had intensive dose therapy in comparison to those receive moderate dose therapy, along with 416 less patients with cardiovascular events who received intense therapy.

Statin drugs have their draw backs according to other studies. Statin drugs are a class of drugs which decrease the level of cholesterol in the blood by lowering the production of cholesterol by the liver. Some of the statin drug names are Crestor, Zocor and Lipitor.

One study had found these drugs to be linked with decreased myocardial (heart muscle) function.

The use of these drugs is acknowledged to be linked to myopathy, muscle weakness and rhabdomyolysis. In the study myocardial function had been assessed in 28 patients. The study had found heart muscle functioning was remarkably better in those that did not take the statin drugs. The researchers of the study had concluded statin therapy is linked with decreased heart muscle function.

Statins are life time. After taking these drugs and your cholesterol level decreases, you more than likely will still remain on these drugs for life. If you stop taking the drugs there is a very good chance your cholesterol will go back up again.

However, there may be an exception to that rule. If major changes are made to your diet and lose unnecessary weight along with lifestyle changes, it could aide in lowering your cholesterol levels without needing the medication. If you are on this medication do not make any changes to your lifestyle or medication without checking first with your primary care physicians.

Statins are noted to be well tolerated in most persons but they do carry side effects which may disappear when your body becomes use to the medication.

Common non-serious side effects include:

Muscle and joint pain

Nausea

Diarrhea

Constipation

Serious side effects include:

Liver damage

Muscle problems

Some alternative products just may be beneficial in lowering cholesterol some of these include:

Artichoke

Barley

Garlic

Oat Bran

Changes to your diet such as increased consumption of dietary fiber, soy foods and plant compounds which are alike cholesterol (plant stanols and sterols) can greatly reduce LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels.

For dietary fiber only in plant foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes and unrefined grains. Citrus fruits, apples, and oat bran are just a few which are especially effective for lowering bad cholesterol levels.

There are cholesterol lowering margarines such as Promise and Smart Balance. Other foods to lower cholesterol include Nature Valley Healthy Heart chewy granola bars and Minute Maid Heart Wise orange juice. Walnuts, almonds and other nuts are also great at lowering cholesterol levels

Sources:

Times of India

Medicine Net

Food Consumer

Mayo Clinic

Web MD