The question I have is: If the questions below are based on real concerns about statins –  Can they possibly be safe to use in the Heart Muscles? The answer right now has to be NO. Not until someone proves statins are beneficial in some way and do not mess with vital cell membrane cholesterol and the huge amounts of neural cholesterol we require to function.This has to be more than a misjudged statistical association. This links to a free article by Parker & Thompson in

Statins are effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiac events but can produce muscle side effects. We have hypothesized that statin-related muscle complaints are exacerbated by exercise and influenced by factors including mitochondrial dysfunction, membrane disruption, and/or calcium handling. The interaction between statins, exercise, and muscle symptoms may be more effectively diagnosed and treated as rigorous scientific studies accumulate.

Why are researchers forced to make a positive statement about Statins before going on to describe how damaging and dangerous they can be? Notice that this paper limits that to acknowledgement of their ability to block cholesterol production. It is rare now to see any direct claim of benefits. I digress…..

• Statin therapy, although well tolerated by most patients, can be associated with muscle-related side-effects and may exacerbate CK release and presumably the skeletal muscle damage associated with eccentric exercise.

• Are statin-induced muscle side effects a continuum from myalgia to rhabdomyositis and caused by similar mechanisms?

• Should clinicians discontinue statin use for several days before endurance events especially if heat stress or other potential exacerbators of rhabdomyolysis may occur?

• Can we develop better, more consistent, screening and testing techniques to assess individuals who may be at risk for myalgia, decreases in muscle strength and aerobic performance, and increased muscle damage with statin treatment?

• Are statin-associated muscle complaints altered by acute and chronic physical activity, and what other factors contribute to the relationship between statins and skeletal muscle function?

• Can increases in CK associated with exercise and statin therapy be confirmed with more direct measurements of muscle damage in human subjects that also provide important information about underlying mechanisms, such as apoptosis, calcium handling, and oxidative stress?

Questions about Statins and Skeletal Muscle Damage in Sports