Ties Between Cholesterol Drugs, Muscle Problems Studied By MSU Researcher
In Michigan State University, they are researching whether the most popular class of cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor, Crestor and Torvast may cause muscle problems in users. These statins can have an effect on skeletal muscles causing them to be weak, fatigue, or deteriorate.
Statins work by preventing cholesterol from forming. This is good in structures like liver cells, but it can be problematic in places such as muscle cells. Almost 50 percent of all Americans over the age of 50 are prescribed a statin medication, and use has tripled over the past 7 years.
A previous statin, Baycol, was taken off the market in August 2001 after it appeared to be responsible for 31 deaths through a potentially fatal breakdown of muscle tissue known as rhabdomyolysis.
In the study, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging will be used to measure muscle integrity and function before and during statin treatment. “While statins have tremendously helped millions of Americans lower their cholesterol and improve their cardiac health, we need to be confident we are not causing other problems in the body,” said Jill Slade, assistant professor of the radiology and osteopathic manipulative medicine at MSU.
I found this article interesting, because we are learning about muscles in physiology. Also, most of the foods I enjoy have high levels of cholesterol in them, and one day, I will probably be on these drugs, just like my entire family over the age of 50.
Daniel Grunden
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129144.php
Statins work by preventing cholesterol from forming. This is good in structures like liver cells, but it can be problematic in places such as muscle cells. Almost 50 percent of all Americans over the age of 50 are prescribed a statin medication, and use has tripled over the past 7 years.
A previous statin, Baycol, was taken off the market in August 2001 after it appeared to be responsible for 31 deaths through a potentially fatal breakdown of muscle tissue known as rhabdomyolysis.
In the study, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging will be used to measure muscle integrity and function before and during statin treatment. “While statins have tremendously helped millions of Americans lower their cholesterol and improve their cardiac health, we need to be confident we are not causing other problems in the body,” said Jill Slade, assistant professor of the radiology and osteopathic manipulative medicine at MSU.
I found this article interesting, because we are learning about muscles in physiology. Also, most of the foods I enjoy have high levels of cholesterol in them, and one day, I will probably be on these drugs, just like my entire family over the age of 50.
Daniel Grunden
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/129144.php
posted by Daniel Grunden at 6:46 PM
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