Exercise could help to counter statins side effect – claim

MODERATE exercise may be the antidote to the most common side-effect of statins, scientists have said.

Some people experience muscle pain after taking the medications and researchers now believe they know why.

A team of researchers funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that statins cause spontaneous and irregular leaks of calcium from storage compartments within muscle cells. Unregulated calcium leaks may cause damage to muscle cells, potentially leading to muscle pain and weakness.

In most people, muscle cells can tolerate this calcium leak, the study suggests. But in people already susceptible due to their genes or lifestyle, the leak caused by statins may overwhelm the muscle cells, causing muscle pain and weakness.

Scientists say their findings suggest why only some people experience muscle pain after taking statins.

Dr Sarah Calaghan, associate professor in cardiac physiology from the University of Leeds, said: “We found that moderate exercise cancelled out the changes in muscle cells caused by statins.

“We know around seven in 10 professional athletes can’t tolerate statins – and we know that intense endurance exercise has profound effects on the gatekeeper proteins targeted by statins.

“The added effect of statins could push muscles over the edge, leading to symptoms.”

The researchers showed that exercise may prevent the changes which lead to calcium leaks from occurring, and it may be an effective way for people taking statins to avoid muscle symptoms.