Patients who take statin drugs to control their cholesterol levels appear to get the added benefit of fewer broken bones.
Previous work in the laboratory and in animals had suggested that statins could strengthen bones, but studies in people have had mixed results.
As women age, and especially after menopause, their bone mineral density tends to decrease, upping the risk of the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, and painful and disabling fractures of the hip, spine and other bones.
Researchers have found that statin drugs, used for the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia (high levels of cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream), may increase bone mineral density and protect against fracture.
They explored the relationship between statin use, bone mineral density and fracture in a well-characterized female population and were unable to find any difference in risk factors for osteoporosis between those using statins and non-users that might explain earlier observations.
The researchers found that statin users had a 60% reduction in fracture risk associated with statin use, which is greater than what would be expected from increased bone mineral density alone.
Archives of Internal Medicine March 11, 2002;162:537-540
Statins are among the hottest selling drugs on the market today. Television commercials aimed at the general public aim to generate public pressure on physicians to prescribe these drugs, and many physicians are all-to-happy to oblige. People prefer these 'magic bullets' to reduce their cholesterol because they do not want to make ANY lifestyle changes.
Last year, the experts changed the "normal" range so even more people will be put on cholesterol lowering drugs.
Prior to the new recommendations 13 million Americans "qualified" to be placed on these drugs. With these new recommendations 36 million Americans now qualify -- nearly triple the amount.
Two years ago, the experts predicted that HALF the population will be taking these types of drugs.
The drug companies are more than eager to find even more potential markets for these already hyper successful drugs.
Even if the stain drugs worked profoundly well for osteoporosis, it is important to remember that the statin class of drugs are not all that safe. Baycol was removed from the market last year due to safety concerns.
It is likely that statin drugs do work to treat osteoporosis and probably do so by increasing osteocalcin levels. The exact level of effectiveness is far to early to determine as this recognition of their benefit is relatively new. The first published study documenting this effect is less than two years old.
However, even if these drugs worked fabulously well, they are clearly not the long-term solution as they are very expensive and in no way shape or form solve the problem.
Osteoporosis is a problem that currently, or will, affect over 25 million Americans.
I recently went through several thousand articles on osteoporosis to put together a breakthrough report on how you can actually solve this riddle for yourself or loved ones with natural and inexpensive therapies.