– McMaster University
News
– Scientists have identified an immune response that may explain why statins cause muscle pain, weakness, and exercise intolerance in some people. The finding could eventually lead to treatments that protect muscles while preserving the drugsâ lifesaving cardiovascular benefits.
Millions of people take statins to lower cholesterol and reduce their chances of having a heart attack or stroke. For some patients, however, the medications can cause muscle pain, weakness, and difficulty exercising, making it harder to stay on treatment.
Researchers at McMaster University have now identified a biological pathway that could help explain why these muscle symptoms develop. The finding may eventually lead to treatments that make statins easier to tolerate without reducing their important cardiovascular benefits.
Details
Published in Science Advances, the study points to a previously unrecognized interaction between the immune system and muscle cell metabolism. The mechanism appears to contribute to muscle damage caused by statins and challenges earlier ideas about the origins of these side effects.
Why Statin Side Effects Matter
“Statins are among the most effective medications we have for reducing cardiovascular disease risk and preventing early death,” said Jonathan Schertzer, professor in McMaster’s Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences and senior author of the study.
Analysis
“Unfortunately, muscle side-effects lead some people to reduce their dose or stop taking the medication altogether. We wanted to understand why this happens and whether it might be possible to separate the side-effects from the benefits.”
An estimated seven to 29 percent of statin users experience muscle-related symptoms. Although the connection between statins and muscle problems has been recognized for years, scientists have not fully understood the biological processes responsible.
Statins Can Disrupt Muscle Cell Energy
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