Statins are among the most widely prescribed medications for lowering cholesterol.
They reduce the risk of blood clots, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases.
However, some patients develop muscle pain or muscle weakness during treatment.
In many cases, blood tests show no signs of muscle damage, making the underlying cause difficult to explain.
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The findings come from a new study published in Science Advances and cited by News-Medical.
Researchers examined the cells
The researchers conducted experiments using muscle cells from both mice and humans.
They investigated how statins affect cellular function.
According to the study, muscle damage was reduced when the researchers inhibited an inflammatory pathway known as NLRP3 or restored certain compounds whose levels are reduced by statins.
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The findings suggest that these mechanisms play a role in the development of muscle-related side effects.
The researchers also found that statins altered the cells' energy production and affected proteins that are essential for normal muscle function.
A new explanation
The study suggests that muscle symptoms are not primarily caused by the cholesterol-lowering effects of statins.
Instead, according to the study, they may be linked to statins reducing the production of compounds known as isoprenoids and activating the body's inflammatory system.
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The researchers emphasize that the findings must be confirmed in studies involving humans.
If confirmed, the results could eventually lead to treatments that reduce muscle-related side effects without compromising the protective effects of statins against cardiovascular disease.
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