Statins: The New Wonder Drugs (page 4 of 4)

Side Benefits of Statins

The more researchers study statins, the more potential uses they're finding for this class of drug, prompting some doctors to jokingly suggest that it be added to the water supply. Among its potential uses:

Lowering CRP. Numerous studies have found that statins can lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a sign of inflammation that researchers now suspect may be a better predictor of heart disease than even high cholesterol. A study in the journal Circulation in August 2002 showed that Zocor lowered CRP levels in just two weeks.

Reducing stroke risk. In several large studies of statins in patients with existing heart disease, the drugs reduced the risk of a first-time stroke between 11 and 30 percent. An analysis of several published trials suggests statins' effect on stroke risk may be due to more than just its ability to reduce cholesterol. For instance, statins improve the function of endothelial cells (the cells that make up the artery walls), probably by boosting their production of nitric oxide. This helps keep artery walls smooth and flexible and reduces the likelihood of plaque formation. Statins also reduce inflammation, make blood platelets less sticky, exert some antioxidant effects, help stabilize plaque so it doesn't burst, and help prevent blood clots.

Treating autoimmune diseases and preventing transplant rejection. In autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, an overactive immune system gets confused, thinks the body's own cells are foreign invaders, and begins attacking them. But researchers found that statins block the action of certain immune cells that play a role in these diseases. These immune cells are also involved in the rejection of transplanted organs, leading researchers to suspect that a statin-like drug could one day be used in place of other transplant-rejection medications.

By far the greatest interest in the effects of statins on the immune system lies in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease. In one study in the journal Neurology, statins prevented the growth of immune cells that contribute to this disease. When mice with MS were treated for a week with doses of Lipitor equal to the highest human dose, the drug reversed or prevented relapses and curbed brain inflammation, a hallmark of the disease. As of this writing, clinical trials in humans with MS were to begin in 2003.

Bettering bone health. Several animal and retrospective studies (in which researchers looked back at people who had been taking statins) found that statins may help bones grow, suggesting a possible use in osteoporosis, which causes brittle bones. Today most treatments for osteoporosis simply slow bone loss. A drug that could actually get bones to grow would be a major breakthrough.

The jury is still out on whether, and by how much, statins can increase bone density. Even if they can, don't look for your doctor to prescribe them for osteoporosis anytime soon. Instead, they may pave the way for the development of drugs that have a similar molecular structure but are designed specifically for bone health.

Fighting dementia and Alzheimer's disease. There is increasing evidence that cholesterol may play a role in the development of certain dementias, including Alzheimer's disease. This begs the question, of course, about whether cholesterol-lowering drugs could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The answer is "maybe." In the largest study so far, researchers examined risk factors for Alzheimer's and medication history in 912 people who either definitely or probably had Alzheimer's, and 1,669 of their family members. They found that taking statins reduced the risk of developing Alzheimer's nearly 80 percent. Statins appear to work by blocking the actions of a protein called A-beta, which makes blood vessels constrict, restricting the flow of blood to the brain.

Diabetes. When researchers evaluated data from one of the largest clinical trials on statins, they found that Pravachol reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 30 percent. They theorize the effect may be due to Pravachol's ability to lower triglyceride levels. (Other statins may lower triglycerides as well.) High triglycerides lead to high circulating levels of free fatty acids, which in turn impair the ability of insulin to interact with its receptor. Lowering triglycerides is a way of preserving insulin sensitivity and preventing insulin resistance.

From Cut Your Cholesterol

 

• • Your Medical Care
• Cholesterol
• • Prescription Drugs
• Heart Disease

• Antioxidants and Statins: A Flawed Partnership?
• The lowdown on a controversial duo.
• 
• Buying Medicine Over the Internet
• Proceed with caution when purchasing from online pharmacies.
• 
• Has Your Doctor Suggested Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?
• The basics on this often misunderstood medication.
• 
• Non-Statin Cholesterol-Lowering Medications
• Other drugs that can be used alone or in conjunction with statins.
• 
• Safe Supplementation: Know the Facts
• Before you supplement, read this advice.
• 
• The Live It Down Plan
• Actually live your cholesterol down by modifying your daily routine.
• 

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