No adverse effects of statins on muscle function and health‐related parameters in the elderly: An exercise study

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a repeated bout of eccentric exercise on health-related parameters and muscle performance on subjects undergoing atorvastatin therapy. Twenty-eight elderly men participated in the investigation and were assigned either in a control (n = 14) or in a statin therapy group (n = 14). All participants performed two isokinetic eccentric exercise bouts separated by 3 weeks. Muscle damage indices, resting energy expenditure, substrate metabolism, lipid and lipoprotein profile, as well as insulin sensitivity, were evaluated before and after eccentric. No differences in muscle function were observed between the two groups either at rest or after exercise. Eccentric exercise increased resting energy expenditure, increased fat oxidation, improved lipid profile, and increased insulin resistance 2 days after both eccentric exercise bouts. However, these changes appeared to lesser extent after the second bout. No differences were observed in the responses in the health-related parameters in the control and in the statin therapy group. Eccentric exercise affected similarly the control and the atorvastatin-treated individuals. The present results indicate that atorvastatin-treated elderly individuals may participate in various physical activities, even high-intensity muscle-damaging activities, without negative impact on muscle function and adaptation.

Muscle damage and inflammation after eccentric exercise: can the repeated bout effect be removed?

“…; Panayiotou et al. ), improved oxidative stress status (Theodorou et al. ), and improved insulin sensitivity (Paschalis et al.…”

Efficacy and safety of statins and exercise combination therapy compared to statin monotherapy in patients with dyslipidaemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…13,16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] Study results indicated that intense training performed by patients or athletes, as well as the practice of acute eccentric and strenuous exercise, might exacerbate muscle injury resulting from the administration of statins. On the other hand, chronic exercise of moderate intensity, performed prior to statin treatment, could attenuate the harmful effects and improve muscle function in its practitioners.…”

“…13,16 One trial reported decreased insulin sensitivity after a bout of exercise in patients with statins. 16 However, another trial of 36 participants found a significantly increase in insulin sensitivity (þ72%) after chronic exercise as compared to pre-training levels in patients with statins.…”

L’intolérance musculaire aux statines

“…En ce qui concerne la réponse du muscle à l'entraînement en résistance (en anglais, high intensity resistance exercise training [RET]), la consommation de statines n'aurait pas d'influence significative sur le gain de masse musculaire ou le gain de force suivant un tel programme d'entraîne-ment [15]. La fonction musculaire pourrait même ne pas être altérée par la prise chronique d'atorvastatine lors d'exercices musculaires excentriques [16]. Une revue récente de la littérature abonde dans le même sens et avance que les statines n'auraient pas d'influence sur l'adaptation musculaire à l'entraînement en résistance [17].…”