Statins may help reduce weight by altering gut microbiota

Statins are effective at lowering cholesterol and most people will not get any side effects while taking them. “Approach your weight loss journey with a mindset focused on overall health, and you’ll be more likely to see sustainable results. Rapid weight loss through extreme measures often leads to regaining the weight—and sometimes more— which can be harmful to your health.

Scope of Review

  • However, myasthenia is a rare side effect, occurring in less than 1% of patients taking statins.
  • In large-scale comparative studies over a period of five years,
  • The most common side effects caused by Rezdiffra are diarrhea, nausea, itching, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, and dizziness.
  • They primarily affect the internal lipid metabolism pathway of the body rather than the external one .
  • If you have specific questions about your medicine and treatment, please speak to your doctor.
  • Qsymia (phentermine / topiramate ER) is another combination weight-loss pill.
  • The estimated mean weight loss after 52 weeks was 2.3% in the placebo group, compared to 6.0%, 8.6%, 11.6%, 11.2%, 13.8%, and 7.8% for the final doses of 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg, and 3 mg liraglutide, respectively.
  • Atorvastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin are predominantly metabolized by the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme.
  • These could be symptoms of a muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to serious kidney problems.
While simvastatin appears to be the best choice in terms of cost and safety, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin may be more effective with respect to their ability to reduce cholesterol levels but harbor a higher probability of exerting an AE and are also more expensive. Pravastatin does not appear to exert an LDL-lowering effect to the extent imposed by the other statins, as reported in the STELLAR and additional studies.60–62 However, it appears to be one of the safest and cheapest options available, followed closely in terms of safety and cost by simvastatin, which typically has a low monthly generic copayment. In addition, a relationship between the potency of statins (as defined by the magnitude by which they reduce LDL-C levels) and reported AEs has been identified in an analysis representing 147,789 cases.63 Here, symptoms relating to rhabdomyolysis and less severe symptoms (ie, myalgia or joint) were reviewed. An analysis involving 246,955 individuals reported that the only AEs with higher odds ratios (OR, 1.51) occurring with statin use compared to a control were elevated transaminase levels and the development of T2DM (OR, 1.09).61 In terms of individual statins, participants were more likely to develop T2DM when taking atorvastatin (OR, 1.17), followed by pravastatin and rosuvastatin (OR, 1.16), simvastatin (OR, 1.10), and lovastatin (OR, 0.98). Cerivastatin.tw. Atorvastatin.tw. 21 or/1‐20
22 exp Cardiovascular Disease/
23 cardiovascular.tw. 32 exp Cholesterol/
33 cholesterol$.tw. Growth Hormone (HGH) is a natural hormone the body produces to, well, grow. It was one of the best cutting agents used in the 1970s for competitive bodybuilders to get ripped, being a favorite of Arnold Schwarzenegger. It has to be said that this will not come close to the results of Trenbolone, however, it won’t have any of the side effects. But if the statin works well, you may feel like you can ease up on your diet or exercise less. Overall, research studies haven’t shown that these medications contribute to weight gain. One lab study found that statin drugs can lower levels of leptin, a hormone that helps control appetite. Still, some people report gaining a few extra pounds after starting on a statin. And there isn’t one statin that is less likely than others to promote weight gain. Forty-nine patients (0.5%) in the statin arm and 50 (0.5%) in the placebo arm had ceased therapy due to side effects.14 The large Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ meta-analyses found overall rates of rhabdomyolysis were 1 per 10,000 patients in both the statin and placebo groups. Myalgia was a common cause of discontinuation, with over 60% of patients who had ceased statin therapy reporting musculoskeletal side effects compared with only 25% in current statin users.13 Overall, the rates of severe musculoskeletal side effects from the current statin drugs are low.12,13 There are variable rates of myopathy reported in the literature ranging from 0.1-10%, but it must be noted that many of these studies use different definitions, have variable methods of data collection and have high rates of reporting bias. This has resulted in several patients ceasing statin therapy amid questions about the potential risk of long-term statin use.8 The aim of this article is to the review the current literature regarding the overall safety of statin therapy. Over a follow-up period of up to four years, 10 percent of those who discontinued their statins were later admitted to the hospital for cardiovascular problems, compared with only 8 percent of those who stayed on the drugs. What's more, in a 2019 French study, people ages 75 to 79 experienced a health issue after going off these cholesterol-lowering medications. A slew of recent studies have shown that statins may have significant benefits in older age groups. On the other hand, older patients are more likely to be on multiple medications that can interact with statins. They can help you manage any side effects while keeping your cholesterol at a healthy level. Understanding how these elements interact is vital for assessing the overall impact of statins on weight. For some patients, experiencing persistent side effects could lead to anxiety or depression, which are often linked to changes in eating habits and physical activity levels. Statins are a class of drugs that are widely used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Your provider will consider how the statin may interact with your medications, and any other medical conditions you have. With this information, your provider will also consider statin intensity. There are several statin choices available. Statins have a direct effect on many diabetes complications.

Do I Need to Exercise Whilst Taking These Fat Burners?

Exenetide is the oldest of the GLP-1 agonists approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Some people develop an immune system reaction to exenetide. Some people may be prescribed up to 4.5 milligrams. The company has a patient assistance program for people who qualify. This is not to say the other weight loss peptides mentioned in this article won’t work for women — they certainly will. Not only is this fat loss stack far more effective for the sole purpose of stubborn body fat removal, but both compounds are much easier to get and the cost won’t blow out your bank account. In fact, I would go as far as to argue that any peptide stack targeted at body fat removal is for advanced trainees only. A veiny six-pack and sub-10% body fat at the young age of 51 years old without loss of libido or hunger cravings! Its main role is to regulate blood glucose by inhibiting glucagon secretion and enhancing insulin secretion from the pancreatic β-cells in a glucose-dependent manner . GLP-1 is secreted after meals from the distal ileum, proximal colon, and the vagal nucleus of the solitary tract, and it has multiple effects as an incretin hormone . The higher dose (3.0 mg SC daily) of liraglutide (Saxenda®) was approved by the FDA in 2014 and the EMA in 2015 for long-term weight management. Liraglutide (Victoza®) is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist that was approved in 2010 for the treatment of T2DM; the recommended dose is subcutaneous (SC) administration of 1.8 mg daily . Statins should not cause weight gain, but everyone’s body is different. However, other factors, like age, a slowing metabolism, and less attention to your diet and exercise, can lead to weight gain. Taking a statin shouldn’t cause you to gain weight easier or make it harder to lose weight. Another factor that played an important role in women’s low compliance to statin treatment was the fear of adverse reactions, such as muscular symptoms and hepatic cytolysis . Additionally, the increased incidence of CHD in men in every age group until 75 years was highlighted, which may promote the idea that heart disease is characteristic to men. From a clinical point of view, women’s cardiovascular risk is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed. In mitigation, it is likely that the localized concentration of statins in adipose tissue and intracellularly in adipocytes may be higher; this has not been investigated. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of the concentrations of statins used in our in vitro experiments should be interpreted with caution (Bjorkhem‐Bergman et al. 2011). Atorvastatin use in obese individuals with type 2 diabetes has also been shown to cause up to 40% reduction in circulating leptin (von Eynatten et al. 2005). It mimics the effects of GLP-1, a gut hormone that’s involved in blood glucose (blood sugar) balance, digestion, and appetite management. But, if needed, medication is another way to help promote weight loss. Still, some internal or external factors may be driving you to try to lower your body weight. The bad news is it there’s the potential for unpleasant side effects like constipation, nausea, high blood pressure, and liver damage.

Who should buy weight loss pills?

The recent release of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines provided a dramatic shift in the treatment approach of cholesterol from the previous Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) guidelines, with a focus on fixed dose moderate/high intensity statin treatment. Globally, in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, the use of cholesterol-lowering medications including statins has tripled since 2000. Research suggests that the healthiest heart eating pattern emphasizes plant proteins such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas; fiber-rich foods such as oats, barley, apples, and berries; nuts and seeds; and healthy oils such as olive oil. But common side effects such as muscle pain, headache, dizziness, and digestive distress do deter some people from continuing to take them. Some studies suggest that statins may actually promote weight loss in certain individuals. While some studies suggest that statins may contribute to weight gain, others have found that they can aid in weight loss. While some studies suggest that statins may contribute to weight gain, others have found that statins can actually aid in weight loss. This is why you might be prescribed a statin if you have health problems that mean you’re at risk of a heart attack or stroke, even if you don’t have high cholesterol. But in rare instances, statins can cause serious muscle damage. Your doctor can run a simple blood test to check your thyroid levels to see if you need treatment. Certain chemicals can mix with statins to raise your odds of side effects. People who are pregnant or who have liver disease should not take statins. If you do have plaque buildup inside your arteries, statins can help prevent them from breaking open and leading to blood clots. If a cholesterol plaque ruptures, a blood clot forms there and this can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Informed Health Links
The convergence of these 2 trends increases the possibility of unfavorable side effects from the interactions of these 2 therapies. He promotes wellness through lifestyle changes, emphasizing exercise, healthy eating, and supportive relationships in addition to traditional metric goals. His commitment to obesity medicine comes from personal and family struggles with obesity, guiding his holistic approach that connects obesity to health issues, including mental health. Many people looking to lose weight are able to get themselves to exercise, but have a hard time with appetite control. A weight loss pill can increase your rate of weight loss, helping you hit your weight loss goals sooner. A weight loss pill can tip the scales in your favor, by increasing your metabolism, decreasing your appetite, or both. Its stimulant-free formulation leans on caffeine-free green tea extract, L-theanine, and 5-HTP for steady weight loss results. If the caffeine in traditional weight loss pills is keeping you up at night or causing jitters and anxiety, try Lean PM. One reason for undertreatment may be underestimation of CVD risk in women. Increases in HDL-C were greater with rosuvastatin across doses than with other statins. Similar results were observed for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). Several medicines can affect the blood levels of Rezdiffra. If you experience any side effects while taking Rezdiffra that do not improve or get worse, talk to your health care provider.
What if I miss a dose?
It is also important to consider other lifestyle factors, such as diet and exercise habits, when examining the relationship between statins and weight loss. Additionally, statins have been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, which can also contribute to weight loss in individuals with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes . Some research suggests that statins may increase the body’s ability to burn fat, leading to a reduction in body weight. Even regular 15-minute walks or jogs through your neighborhood help speed up weight loss. Switching to a high-protein diet boosts your metabolism and reduces food cravings, which helps you feel full throughout the day. The most tried-and-true weight loss tactics are reducing calories and extending workouts. Beyond that, after you reach your weight loss goals, plans are available to help you make the transition back to grocery shopping, cooking and eating on your own. Furthermore, the SEQUEL study, a 2-year extension trial, aimed at assessing the sustenance of weight loss in participants after completion of the CONQUER trial . EQUIP and CONQUER were 1-year randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled studies, including 1267 (non-diabetic patients with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2) and 2487 participants (BMI ranging from 27 to 45 kg/m2 and more than two obesity-related comorbid conditions), respectively 36, 37. In animal studies, it has appetite-suppressant effects through interaction with biogenic amine transporters, which mainly enhances the norepinephrine as well as dopamine and serotonin release in the central nervous system (CNS) . At Stony Brook’s Bariatric and Metabolic Weight Loss Center, we take a personalized, evidence-based approach to weight loss. However, because this surgery significantly reduces the body’s ability to absorb calories and nutrients, it carries a higher risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This is the most commonly performed weight loss surgery in the U.S. and involves removing about percent of the stomach, leaving behind a smaller, tube-shaped “sleeve.” Bariatric surgery is one of the most effective treatments for people with obesity, especially when other methods haven’t worked. The first step in any weight loss journey is usually a change in daily habits, including food choices, exercise, sleep patterns and stress management. Some people who took orlistat developed severe liver damage. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems during your treatment with orlistat. When dining out, ask how foods are prepared and request that they be prepared with little or no added fat. Use the low- or nonfat versions of these foods and/or cut back on serving sizes. Many weight loss programs, such as Diet-to-Go, Nutrisystem and WW, offer vegetarian-friendly meal delivery for weight loss as well. Ultra-low-calorie diet plans can leave you feeling uncomfortably hungry most of the time, plus “low-fat” snacks are often full of sugars and refined carbohydrates. Eating high-protein foods also protects against muscle loss and increases your metabolic rate, which in turn increases calories burned. High-protein, low-carb diets replace starches and sugar with lean protein. Medically supervised weight loss programs starting around $20 a day. Atorvastatin 80 mg was used in the PROVE IT TIMI 22 trial (79), the SAGE trial (80) and in the SPARCL trial (81), all with a considerable inclusion of elderly people. However, the magnitude of the cardiovascular risk of the patient is of utmost importance for a real benefit. The number needed to treat was 98 (54-735) for elderly people with vascular disease and 132 for individuals without vascular disease with no mortality decrease. A meta-analysis including 28 randomized trials (78) with 134,537 patients, divided people into six strata of age, ranging from 50 years to older than 75 years.
  • Currently, there are six statin drugs available on the market – pitavastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin and fluvastatin.
  • We see much less Androgenic side effects, and typically do not see endogenous Testosterone shutdown either.
  • Other studies had suggested that insulin sensitivity may mean that certain people will do better with a low-carb diet.
  • In one trial, 42 percent of patients without Type 2 diabetes who took Contrave along with a diet and exercise routine lost at least 5 percent of their body weight, according to the FDA.
  • The reduction of mortality was evident in the Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease (LIPID) study , which included over 9000 patients with unstable coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • (7) However, this is probably most beneficial for people with larger amounts of body fat or those with diagnosed obesity, according to Jillian Kubala, RDN.
  • IVUS provides a precise and reproducible method for determining the change in atheroma burden during treatment.
  • Pancreatic, intestinal, and breast neoplasms were more frequently developed in rodents administered with incretin-based medications; however, these results were not confirmed in human studies 56–58.
Orlistat has been shown to be effective for achieving weight loss of 5% or more from baseline. At the one-year point, excess weight loss with orlistat compared to placebo was 2.6 kg (95% CrI -3.04 to -2.16 kg) . PubMed database was searched using the keywords “pharmacotherapy”, “weight loss”, “FDA-approved”, “orlistat”, “phentermine-topiramate”, “naltrexone-bupropion”, “liraglutide”, and “semaglutide”. People who are younger, who don’t have any risk factors for heart disease, can usually get away with lifestyle changes – diet and exercise. Most people do not experience significant side effects from statins, says cardiologist Ian Neeland, MD, director for the Center of Cardiovascular Prevention at University Hospitals.Dr. Nonetheless, with an aging population, ever-lowering LDL cholesterol guidelines, and increasing numbers of statin prescriptions, research aimed at better elucidating the relationship between exercise, statin therapy and skeletal muscle will be critical for refining treatment guidelines. But if you do experience muscle pain while taking atorvastatin, there’s a good chance it will go away over time. But it also found that most reports of muscle symptoms may not actually be due to the statin. Muscle pain is one of the most commonly reported atorvastatin side effects. These recommendations apply to adults 40 years and older without a history of CVD who do not have current signs and symptoms of CVD (i.e., symptomatic coronary artery disease or ischemic stroke). The Pooled Cohort Equations were derived from prospective cohorts of volunteers from studies conducted in the 1990s and may not be generalizable to a more contemporary and diverse patient population seen in current clinical practice. Identification of dyslipidemia and calculation of 10-year CVD event risk requires universal lipids screening in adults aged 40 to 75 years. You may need to stop using this medicine if you have major surgery, a major injury, or if you develop other serious health problems. As these guidelines are clinically implemented, it is predicted that 12.8 million additional individuals will now qualify for statin therapy.6 As statin use continues to increase, a concern is raised that patients, as well as physicians, may become over-reliant on pharmacological methods of controlling high cholesterol levels and disregard approaches such as lifestyle changes that are beneficial for not only improving cardiovascular health20 but also overall well-being. In both statin-resistant and statin-intolerant patients, other avenues of treatment must be explored.3 Alternatives to statin therapy include use of cholesterol absorption inhibitors and bile-acid sequestrants; however, they lack the potency of statins in their ability to lower LDL-C levels. Whereas a small degree (2–5%) of weight loss, if maintained for 2years, can significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes among patients withoverweight/obesity and weight loss of 5–10% significantly improvesglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, reductions in blood pressure are lesssignificant and vary with mild to moderate weight loss . A recent study proposed that statins slow down the progression of atherosclerotic disease in patients by reducing the cholesterol content within vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and aortic tissue and by modifying their biomechanical function . Consequently, apart from their effects on blood lipid levels, statins exert direct cardiovascular benefits through their antiatherogenic properties within the artery wall . In stage 3b CKD, some of your medications may start to build up in your body. Your healthcare professional may advise an even lower target depending on your other health conditions. If you have high blood pressure, it is important to limit your sodium (salt) intake to less than 2300 mg per day (about 1 teaspoon of salt from all the food and drinks you consume each day). Overall, this review systematically clarifies statins’ adverse effects, contributing to understanding their safety profile and underscoring their importance in managing cardiovascular health. The nuanced relationship between statins and type 2 diabetes is discussed, emphasizing cardiovascular benefits outweighing diabetes risks. This surplus of diabetes diagnoses primarily occurred shortly after starting statin therapy among individuals with significant diabetes risk factors, such as a higher body mass index, elevated HbA1c levels, or impaired fasting glucose. Importantly, both atorvastatin and simvastatin can reduce CRP levels, even in patients without elevated cholesterol 49,50, indicating that statins could be beneficial for individuals with normal LDL but heightened inflammatory markers. The weight-loss drugs won't melt off the pounds overnight. Like older medications, the new drugs are best used as part of a comprehensive weight-loss program that includes close monitoring by an experienced physician. "We now have six FDA-approved drugs, but that is a tiny percentage of the number available to treat hypertension and other chronic diseases, so we need even more options to treat obesity most effectively." It has been the subject of intense scientific and medical research to develop effective treatments. Dermspotlight does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. Rather, they serve as supplemental assistance to an established weight loss plan which includes consuming an array of the most nutrient-dense foods alongside proper sleep etiquette and exercise. Some people like to take their fat burner right when they wake up to jumpstart their metabolism, but others may prefer to take it right before a workout. (10)(11)(12) Thanks to its low cost per serving and simple formulation, we think Thorne’s Green Tea Extract is one of the best green tea supplements for supporting your weight loss journey. Thorne packs 250 milligrams of green tea extract in just one capsule of this supplement to help potentially increase your body fat burn. HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LOCF, last observation carried forward; LS, least-squares; TG, triglyceridesReductions in non-HDL-C levels ranged from 45% to 53% with rosuvastatin, 37% to 48% with atorvastatin, 27% to 44% with simvastatin, and 19% to 28% with pravastatin (Fig. 2B). To compare changes in lipid levels among treatments, least-squares mean changes from baseline to 6 weeks for 22 pairwise comparisons of rosuvastatin 10, 20, or 40 mg with milligram-equivalent or higher doses of comparator statins (Fig. 1) were obtained using a Bonferroni adjustment with a significance level of 0.002 to obtain an experiment-wise error rate of 0.05. Aggressive treatment of modifiable risk factors (e.g., hypercholesterolemia) is essential in reducing disease burden.
  • If this plaque breaks free or blocks the normal flow of blood, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.
  • It is important that these trials examine comprehensively potential adverse effects of statins and quality of life, reporting on them in an unbiased way.
  • Regarding the number of avoided cardiovascular events, smokers have no significant benefit from the effects of statins than non-smokers .
  • This observation supports the notion that statins do not solely reduce risk by lowering cholesterol but also by suppressing inflammation.
  • As we can see, statins wouldn't make a big difference for Olga because she doesn't have any other risk factors.
  • While rare, rhabdomyolysis is possible with atorvastatin.
  • KetoFuse is a dietary supplement designed to support weight management and improve metabolism.
  • This includes conditions related to the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Considerations for statin use in these populations can be found in other organizations’ guidelines and resources on management of these conditions. In addition, the USPSTF wants to clarify that these recommendations do not pertain to adults with familial hypercholesterolemia or an LDL-C level greater than 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L). The USPSTF understands these concerns and calls for more research on improving the accuracy of CVD risk prediction in all racial and ethnic and socioeconomic groups in the Research Needs and Gaps section. “This approach can be a good start for those looking for meal ideas or (who) need something quick and easy to fit into a busy lifestyle,” says Lacy Puttuck, registered dietitian who specializes in weight loss and weight management. The premade meals focus on lean proteins, healthy fat and certain "smart" carbohydrates combined with fiber and vegetables, according to the company’s website. Intermittent fasting can be an effective approach to weight loss or weight management, mostly because it tends to reduce people’s total energy (calorie) intake, says Monica Reinagel, licensed nutritionist and host of the Nutrition Diva podcast. Rated best weight loss app for behavior modification by Healthline in 2025 and second best diet program by U.S.
  • “While all statins work through the same enzyme pathway, small differences in the chemical structure of the drugs can have a big impact on how you respond.”
  • But when it comes to preventing heart disease, significant differences haven’t been found between statins.
  • This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly to lower your cholesterol and triglyceride levels and to decide if you should continue to take it.
  • As such, it has been hypothesized that chronic cholesterol depletion by statins could result in a similar reduction of insulin secretion as NB598 treatment .
  • Some studies suggest that statins may influence glucose metabolism, leading to increased insulin resistance and changes in body composition.
  • Just the right balance of sweetness without being sickly, and it’s missing the synthetic chalky aftertaste cheaper protein powders often have.
  • So, it's really difficult to know if it's the statin or it's other factors.
  • Taking exogenous HGH has been known to be a game changer for fat loss.
When diet and exercise aren't working, the answer may be at the drugstore. He uses his background in clinical nutrition to dissect research and help individuals meet their health and fitness goals. Daniel Preiato is a registered dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition and nutrition education. These drugs can also produce side effects that may spur changes in eating habits, which can lead to safety risks or worse health outcomes if not appropriately managed. This “rebound effect” shows that the drug was working well to manage their obesity, but when they stopped using it, the weight returned—much like what would happen to someone with elevated blood pressure or high cholesterol. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s)—better known by brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound— are often referred to as “miracle drugs.” GLP-1s were originally developed to help regulate blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Nearly all other doctor-recommended treatments for weight loss are safer and more effective for weight loss than laxatives. Caveolin-1 is a vital plasma membrane protein in caveolae-rich regions where GLUT4 is translocated upon stimulation by insulin 17,20. Glucose uptake in adipocytes and striated muscle cells is mediated through a channel referred to as glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), which is responsible for peripheral insulin-mediated glucose influx. Several other drugs are also metabolized via the CYP450 system; as such, it is essential to monitor the levels of other drugs to prevent drug-drug interactions. They usually require protein transporters to enter the cell to accomplish inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase . Statins can be classified based on their increased potency and efficacy in lowering plasma LDL cholesterol concentration or their physicochemical properties.
  • They are therefore usually only offered on the NHS for people who meet those criteria, although they are widely available privately.
  • Additional clinical studies were retrieved by manual review of all relevant references in screened articles and reviews on statins.
  • From these 99 papers, 72 papers reporting on 48 studies were excluded (see Characteristics of excluded studies).
  • Nonetheless, concern has been expressed regarding the adverse effects of long term statin use.
  • The study required individuals to have received statin therapy for at least 90 days, and the average length of follow-up was approximately 2 years; 74% of the statin users used simvastatin.58
  • For the purposes of this recommendation, dyslipidemia is defined as an LDL-C level greater than 130 mg/dL or a high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level less than 40 mg/dL (to convert HDL-C values to mmol/L, multiply by 0.0259).

Burden of cardiovascular disease

  • Haemorrhagic stroke appears to be increased by statin treatment, although estimates are imprecise, with an annual risk of 0.5 per 1000 patients treated for five years which is small compared with the benefits seen on the overall risk of stroke (CTT Collaboration 2012a).
  • The only measure that was different was that the LDL (low density lipoprotein) was significantly lower in the low-fat group, and the HDL (high density lipoprotein) was significantly higher in the low-carb group.
  • The pathology of COPD, an irreversible and progressive obstruction of airflow, also involves an abnormal inflammatory response.109 While statins have been considered for use in treating COPD, current guidelines do not recommend the use of statins to prevent acute disease exacerbations.110 The basis for these guidelines stems from the discrepancy between results obtained from retrospective cohort studies indicating a beneficial effect of statins in COPD patients and those from randomized clinical studies, which have failed to confirm these findings.109–112
  • Successful completion of these endeavors would then culminate in randomized clinical trials designed to evaluate the purported efficacy of various off-label effects of statins.
  • For the ladies reading this article, the single best peptide for female fat loss is undoubtedly Ipamorelin.
  • Once you’ve chosen a weight loss program, you’ll want to use it in a way that is successful and sustainable.
  • When evaluating alternative treatments, it’s important to consider their benefits and potential side effects.
Statins are often prescribed to help treat atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). When atherosclerosis blocks off blood flow it can cause a heart attack or stroke. They can reduce LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol) by 20% to 45%. There are many ways to save on weight-loss pills. Also let them know what you’re willing to potentially spend on a weight-loss pill. The decision to start taking a weight-loss pill is a personal one. But it’s important to have a conversation with your prescriber about the potential risks of controlled substances like Qsymia. Kappelle 2009 published data only For example, the ingestion of grapefruit juice (200 mL) can increase simvastatin plasma levels by more than threefold.50 In some cases, the statin/grapefruit interaction can result in rhabdomyolysis.51 At this time, however, the prevalence between severe, statin-induced AEs and the consumption of grapefruit in the general population is difficult to ascertain. The most commonly reported food–drug interaction involves grapefruit, which contains furanocoumarins, potent CYP3A4 inhibitors.49 Thus, ingestion of grapefruit can impair a patient’s ability to metabolize drugs like simvastatin, resulting in a significant increase in plasma simvastatin levels. In addition, statins suppress ubiquinone and ATP synthesis. Clinically, these symptoms can be defined as myopathy (muscle weakness), myositis (muscle inflammation), myonecrosis (elevated muscle enzyme levels), rhabdomyolysis (severe myonecrosis with myoglobinuria or acute renal failure) and myalgia (unexplained muscle discomfort which encompasses muscle aches, soreness, etc). The internalization of LDL-C increases intracellular cholesterol levels and promotes a return to homeostatic levels of LDL-C (Fig. 1H). Do not add Repatha before maximizing statin therapy and considering ezetimibe—this violates guideline-directed therapy and wastes healthcare resources. Add Repatha 140 mg every 2 weeks or 420 mg monthly only after the patient has been on maximally tolerated statin therapy and LDL-C remains ≥70 mg/dL, particularly if the patient meets "very high-risk" criteria with established ASCVD. While statins are safe in MASLD, monitor liver enzymes periodically as clinically indicated 2. If you are worried that you may be having a side effect (such as memory loss) from your statin medicine, keep taking your medicine and speak with a doctor or other health professional about your concerns. In fact, most evidence concludes that statins don’t have any effect (positive or negative) on memory, mental ability or dementia. There is also not enough evidence to support taking statins long-term to slow mental decline or prevent dementia – which earlier research had suggested. The incidence of tendon rupture did not significantly differ between statin users and non-users. As a result of the occurrence of cataracts and other side effects in individuals in various age groups, the therapeutic application of triparanol was discontinued . The impact of statin medication on memory loss has been investigated with varying findings. Additionally, there was a slight increase in the number of newly identified diabetes cases. One of those risks, for example, is development of diabetes. So, most of the people who reported a symptom on statin of a side effect had the same side effect on placebo. And the result of that is that there's really no effect of statins on thinking or memory issues. Lovastatin ER tablets (Altoprev) are only available as a brand-name product. Lovastatin became the first FDA-approved statin medication in 1987. But does this mean that one statin is better than another? Your odds go up if you take a high dose of a statin or take other drugs at the same time. This only happens to a few people out of every million who take these drugs. Most statin-related aches aren’t harmful. Occasionally, muscle pain can be present without a raised CK level. Symptoms like muscle tenderness and soreness are often linked to a rise in CK. The yellow card scheme allows you to report suspected side effects of any medicine you’re taking. Statins play an important role in preventing and treating atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Statins are usually the first-line treatment for high cholesterol. If you routinely get less than that, it can be difficult to maintain a weight that’s good for your overall health.
  • Since statins can cause muscle pain and weakness, they can contribute to weight gain by making a person less physically active.
  • Which statin is least likely to cause muscle pain?
  • The risks, side effects and cost related to taking the drug likely override any potential benefit.
  • Any fat loss from Steroids/fat burners is 100% permanent.
  • Moreover, all RCTs included statins as a mode of therapy, the included studies were randomized, and most were double‐blind, and these studies did not include alcoholics or drug users.
  • The small intestine absorbs the cholesterol from food and releases it into the bloodstream.
  • Flow chart for articles researching efficacy of naltrexone for weight loss in adult patients
  • "You can see changes in blood pressure, in average blood sugar levels, in cholesterol."
By contrast several studies have found no evidence of an effect of statins on aerobic exercise performance. There was no apparent change in the onset of lactate accumulation or “anaerobic threshold” during the exercise test, however, which argues against an alteration in exercise fat metabolism with statin treatment. There are also sparse data on the effects of statins on aerobic exercise performance; again these findings were covered in our recent review on the topic (12). Become a Member of Our Health and Wellness Email List It’s essential to follow a diet and exercise program As these studies did not aim to investigate the risk of cancer or the incidence of medullary thyroid carcinoma, which had a very low incidence rate, the above results should be interpreted cautiously, and an intensive post-marketing surveillance of liraglutide should be performed. To prevent the side effects of nausea and vomiting, treatment with liraglutide should be initiated with 0.6 mg QD and gradually increased by 0.6 mg up to 3 mg each week 30, 36. They included patients with a BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 and at least one weight-related comorbid condition, such as hypertension. The occurrence of myopathy, including rhabdomyolysis, is extremely rare, happening in less than 0.1% of patients when prescribed at the highest doses. One serious side effect is myopathy, characterized by unexplained muscle soreness or weakness. Even after adjusting for age and gender, the results remained consistent, with 69,498 controls matched to 34,749 individuals on statin therapy . People with high blood pressure should be especially careful, as these products can raise blood pressure levels. They reduce how much fat your body absorbs from food3. These products typically work by raising your energy levels and increasing how many calories your body uses throughout the day. The focus of weight loss should always be changing your eating habits and exercising. However, weight loss pills are not a magic solution.
What are the different types of laxatives available?
Of the 1197 patients in the LIVES study who had diabetes mellitus as well as hypercholesterolemia, treatment with pitavastatin was not found to affect glucose metabolism. The statins have different abilities to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, differing pharmacokinetics, differing interactions with drugs and foods, and variable costs. Like the statins, fibrates reduce the body's cholesterol production, but they are less effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. In fact, meta-analysis including previous clinical trials on the cardiovascular effects of statins found similar proportional reductions in the risk of developing new major vascular or coronary events in patients regardless of their age, sex, cholesterol levels, presence of diabetes, hypertension, previous myocardial infarction or other coronary heart diseases.12 The use of statins to treat a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, has also been reported.165,166 The pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease involves aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-S), a presynaptic, neuronal protein, which normally binds to plasma membranes.167 In addition, high cholesterol levels are implicated in disease progression and the use of statins in animal models of Parkinson’s disease can reduce α-S aggregation and neuropathology.168 While some epidemiological studies report that statin use may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease,169 others imply that these protective effects are not observed after adjusting the results for cholesterol levels.170 It’s essential to remember that statins are prescribed to manage cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, not as a weight loss aid. Overall, while statins are effective at lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, the relationship between statins and weight loss is still not fully understood.
  • Isoenzyme CYP 3A4 of cytochrome P450 is the main catalyst for the metabolism of many drugs, including majority of the statins.
  • While statins may have a protective impact on the kidney, additional research is required for a more definitive conclusion.
  • Then, if your body responds well, you can increase your dose to two capsules with breakfast and two capsules with lunch.
  • And there's some evidence that this age group may be more prone to statin side effects, such as muscle pain, an increased risk of diabetes, and liver problems.
  • The benefit of these medications is that they help move weight loss along more quickly than diet and exercise alone, thus encouraging patients to stick to their lifestyle changes, Jin said.
  • Building healthy eating habits can help you become more consistent and acquire a taste for healthier foods you might not normally choose on your own.
Soy may have other health benefits as well. It is not part of the American diet, but you can get it in supplements such as Metamucil or Perdiem Fiber. Oat bran is the best-known example; 1–2 ounces a day should reduce your cholesterol by 10%–15%. It's important to keep up a good diet and exercise program even if you take medication. Health-focused weight loss programs with fitness instruction starting at $39 for three months. Our research team vetted 23 weight loss programs that are rated by more than 9,300 customers. Healthy meal plans, personalized coaching and online support can make the weight loss journey easier. The most popular but largely untested theory for statin myopathy at rest and during exercise is depletion of intramuscular CoQ10 producing mitochondrial dysfunction, subsequent abnormal muscle energy metabolism and ultimately symptoms. A schematic of the potential mechanisms by which statin therapy and exercise result in skeletal muscle damage. Group means (± SD) of total CK before (Pre), immediately after (Finish), and 24 hours after the 2011 Boston Marathon (Post) in 37 individuals treated with statins and in 43 non-statin treated controls, including the p-value for the group-by-time interaction. We have confirmed that eccentric exercise during statin therapy does increase CK levels more than exercise on placebo in our most recent study, conducted at the 2011 Boston Marathon (18). We thereby concluded that that exercise can increase CK levels with even low dose statin therapy. While you won’t necessarily absorb all of it, low levels of vitamin B12 can significantly impact energy levels, leading to feelings of tiredness and weakness. With 7 grams of fiber per scoop, you are a inch closer to meeting your dietary fiber goals. TAHA’s Protein Blend contains 25 grams of protein per scoop, ensuring you meet your protein goals. When activated, the AMPK enzyme begins to break down fat for energy, which may lead to fat loss. This formula is designed to be gentle on your stomach, avoiding common GI side effects such as nausea or digestion discomfort. Before we dive into the possible connection between statin drugs and weight loss, it’s essential to understand how these medications work. But is this a coincidence, or is there a genuine connection between statin drugs and weight loss? For example, certain prescription medications can help lower cholesterol or assist in weight loss for individuals who struggle to shed pounds. Not only can exercise help to manage weight, but it can also improve lipid profiles and overall heart health. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. You may need to stop using this medicine if you have major surgery, a major injury, or you develop other serious health problems. These could be symptoms of a muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis, which can lead to serious kidney problems. But in November, new guidelines on statin use issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology proposed a major change to that strategy. We suggest that inadvertent conception during statin therapy does not require pregnancy termination but should prompt close follow-up with an obstetrician. The low potency, gastrointestinal side effects, and frequent triglyceride raising effect all make these agents suboptimal for controlling LDL-C in pregnant women. In July 2021, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested the removal of the long-standing contraindication to statin use in women who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy. More recently, other concerns have been raised, including the potential for brain-related side effects, such as memory loss and confusion. For those transitioning from cutting to bulking, where more calories and protein are essential, Serious Mass makes it easier to meet those needs, especially for those with a high metabolism. (If you’re more interested in lean muscle, some solid alternatives include Legion’s Muscle Growth Stack or JYM’s Muscle-Building Stack. The product also contains 1 gram of taurine, which is believed to help reduce muscle soreness post-workout (23).