Statins are prescribed to many adults over forty to lower cholesterol levels and improve heart functioning. However, studies on mice have shown statins may cause fatigue and reduce one’s willingness to exercise. The benefits of statins may be offset by a decrease in physical fitness. Furthermore, use of statins may increase the risk of type II diabetes and muscle fatigue. Patients need to weigh the pros and cons when considering taking statins.
Key Takeaways:
- Taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs seemed to make exercise more difficult and less beneficial, a new study in mice suggests.
- Mice are not humans, obviously, but the study does raise interesting questions about whether and how statins might affect physical fitness in all of us.
- But many questions remain unanswered about how statins affect someone’s willingness and ability to exercise and also whether exercising while on statins exacerbates any muscular problems.
“And when they did move, mice on statins developed fewer advantageous physical changes within their muscles than animals that were not given the drugs.”