In the near future, it’s highly likely that you may be prescribed a statin medication if you’re not already taking one. Statins are a popular choice for lowering LDL cholesterol levels and are proven to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, and even death.

Typically recommended for individuals with cardiovascular disease, they are now also suggested for people aged 40 to 75 who have at least one risk factor such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or smoking, and a 7.5% or higher chance of experiencing a heart attack or stroke within the next decade.

Furthermore, new research suggests that statins could also provide benefits to high-risk individuals over the age of 75.

Taking a statin might offer you peace of mind that you’re doing all possible to prevent cardiovascular disease, but it also comes with the risk of unwanted side effects.

For many years, statins have been considered the most effective means of reducing LDL or “bad” cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Despite being well-tolerated by most, they can result in muscle pain and weakness in some individuals.

There is some evidence to support the claim that those who routinely exercised before beginning a statin regimen had a lower risk of developing muscle pain and cramping.

In the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), regular physical activity is considered essential, particularly when combined with statin therapy. Nevertheless, several studies indicate that vigorous exercise can lead to increased muscle damage in some statin users, potentially resulting in decreased physical activity or even medication discontinuation. Conversely, the effect of moderate exercise on statin users is not as well understood.

In this study, researchers aimed to compare the impact of moderate-intensity exercise on muscle injury in three groups: symptomatic and asymptomatic statin users, as well as non-statin-using controls.

To differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, the researchers used the statin myalgia clinical index score, which evaluated the presence, localization, and timing of muscle cramps, pain, and/or weakness.

Additionally, the researchers investigated the association between leukocyte CoQ10 levels, muscle injury, and muscle complaints, as statins have been shown to lower CoQ10 levels, which in turn can increase the risk of muscle injury.

Throughout the study, all participants walked for four consecutive days at a self-selected pace, covering distances of 30, 40, or 50 km (18.6, 24.8, or 31 miles), respectively.

Individuals with diabetes, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, known hereditary skeletal muscle defects, other diseases that may cause muscle symptoms, or those taking CoQ10 supplementation were excluded from the study.

At the outset of the study, the three groups did not exhibit any significant differences in terms of body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity levels, or vitamin D3 levels. It is worth noting that low levels of vitamin D3 have been linked to statin-induced myopathy and thus may contribute to an increased risk of developing statin-associated muscle symptoms.

The study’s findings indicate that moderate-intensity exercise did not worsen muscle injury or muscle symptoms in individuals taking statins.

“Even though muscle pain and fatigue scores were higher in symptomatic statin users at baseline, the increase in muscle symptoms after exercise was similar among the groups,” points out first author Neeltje Allard.

The findings suggest “that prolonged moderate-intensity exercise is safe for statin users and can be performed by statin users to maintain a physically active lifestyle and to derive its cardiovascular health benefits.”

The study’s results revealed no significant correlation between leukocyte CoQ10 levels and markers of muscle injury, either before or after exercise. Additionally, there was no observed correlation between CoQ10 levels and measures of muscle fatigue resistance or muscle pain scores.

Robert Rosenson, MD, who serves as the Director of Metabolism and Lipids at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, commented in an accompanying editorial that patients who experience muscle symptoms associated with statin use may avoid exercise due to concerns over increased pain and weakness. However, exercise is crucial in restoring and maintaining fitness levels, especially in individuals who are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease or have a history of cardiovascular events.

As suggested by this new study “many patients who develop statin associated muscle symptoms may engage in a moderately intensive walking program without concern for worsened muscle biomarkers or performance,” he adds.

Image Credit: Getty