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Reassuring to know

Squire Fulwood

Expert
Messages
6,114
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
This would be reassuring if it wasn't for the leading report writer mentioned in the text.

Statin pills much safer than advertised, major review finds

The results, in The Lancet journal, come from trials involving more than 120,000 people comparing statins with a dummy drug or placebo.
www.bbc.co.uk

Prof Sir Rory Collins, who is the review's senior author.
 
This has been reported in a number of news outlets . The paper they are referring to, was published on line Feb 5th 2026 in ‘The Lancet’ titled : ‘Assessment of adverse attributed to stain therapy in product labels: a meta-analysis of double-blind rendomised controlled trials.’


In summary the paper states that there is no reliable evidence that statins cause many of the side effects listed on the label. It stated that only 4 out of the 66 side effects listed are related to statin use. The 4 are: diabetes, liver changes , minor liver abnormalities , urine and tissue swelling. The paper states these are supported by evidence. The paper provides compelling evidence that the other side effects thought to be attributed to statin use are not caused by statins and would have occurred regardless.

Edited grammar
 
Flane said:
Is there an issue with him?
Click to expand...
Professor Sir Rory Collins has received funding from drug companies (ones that produce statins) for his research!

Professor's research funded by multi-million drug manufacturer

THE world-renowned professor whose research unit led studies expected to lead to a new era of widespread heart drug treatment has had multi-million pound funding from the manufacturers of statins to carry out his work.
www.express.co.uk
 
This report is from 2014.

Are you saying that the more recent study is influenced by the research fund provider?
 
Pipp said:
This report is from 2014.

Are you saying that the more recent study is influenced by the research fund provider?
Click to expand...
Not really saying anything, just answering a question. Has his mind set changed now? Who knows?
 
Rachox said:
Not really saying anything, just answering a question. Has his mind et changed now? Who knows?
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks,
Just wondered at how relevant the reference to an article in the Daily Express from 2014 is to the current referenced study, with multiple researchers contributing.
 
lessci said:
So my chronic leg muscle pain that started 3 months after starting simvastatin and disappeared when I stopped taking it was all in my mind?
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@lessci One would imagine that has something to do with tissue swelling and a known side effect.
 
Rachox said:
Not really saying anything, just answering a question. Has his mind set changed now? Who knows?
Click to expand...
All Scientific and medical research has to be funded from somewhere. And to make my point, this would include research on subjects around low carb diets which is championed on this forum.
Research funding will inevitably come from areas where there is interest, as government funding is more or less nonexistent. It doesn’t mean to say the research is tainted, which seems to be something that is brought whenever it involves a subject that doesn’t suit one’s thinking. These research papers do have full disclosure. It’s down to the individual whether one wants to take on board the findings within these reports. The Lancet does have an excellent worldwide reputation and papers published within are peer reviewed.
 
lessci said:
So my chronic leg muscle pain that started 3 months after starting simvastatin and disappeared when I stopped taking it was all in my mind?
Click to expand...
My experience of Statins happened twice.
First back in 2007 when I was first diagnosed T2.
I became quite ill, couldn't work. The muscle and joint aches and pains were excruciating.
Thankfully, a Doctor at local hospital, agreed with me about the side effects of Statins.
I recovered after a few weeks of stopping the statins.
Looking back, I know that they were the problem.
I was talked into trying Simvastatin a few years later....same effect...severe muscle and joint pains.,prevented me from working physically, brain fog and confusion at times.
Again, I stopped them and quickly recovered.
Over the years my Cholesterol readings were consistent..around 6 to 6.4....except when on Statins when it once lowered to 3.9.
I know my own body...my present cholesterol level is 6.3. It has been for many years and was before I was diagnosed with T2. It's where it's meant to be..IMHO.
I refuse statins every year.
 
If you are like me blessed with familial cholesterol, I believe it makes no difference as the statins would not work.
 
I don’t want to derail this thread as it concerns research around side effects of statin use and how this latest research suggests only 4 out of the 66 known side effects are evidenced as being attributed to statin use. Muscle cramp would, in my opinion, be covered under ‘tissue swelling’ which is evidenced and acknowledged in the research paper.

Just briefly picking up on your point @Lainie71 about statins and genetics. I have very high Lipoprotein a ‘s (Lp(a) which is determined by genetics, it cannot be brought down by diet or exercise . So like high cholesterol , and I’m talking about high ApoB results, which is the main determinant, for risk of stroke and CVD , dementia etc , High Lp(a) carries an even higher risk. Statins have actually brought my Lp(a) levels down, not greatly, they are still too high, but they have lowered my risk. And as I said Lp(a) levels are purely determined by genetics. So I am thankful for statin use. I could not care less if Dr Collins had an invested interest back in 2014 , they are helping me bring down my dangerously high Lp(a) s.
 
I accept what you say, but everyone is different. I saw my mother on statins and her health declined in the last six years of her life so much that she was unable to move and she sat in a care home where she should not have been. My father took statins and although he did not end up in a care home, I saw mood changes, and crippling leg pain which he did not have previous to taking statins. I am frightened of not taking statins and of taking statins. I did not have high cholesterol before going low carb and have drastically dropped my red meat intake to see what my cholesterol levels will be next time they are checked. The results will be proof in the pudding. As far as the exercise goes, I have nothing to loose, I have no joint pain and my mind is sharp and at 57 I dont think I am doing too bad.
 
Lots of people have those very same concerns @Lainie71 . I guess that’s what this research paper is looking to address . My legs ached a year or so before taking statins. If I was already on statins I would have blamed the statins for my aching legs for sure. Not saying statins don’t cause aching legs because that’s a know side effect, and the research paper addresses that. So the question always comes up around whether once on statins, any health issues that arise after starting them could be , and often is, assumed to be down to the statins. It’s always around balancing risk with these things. Any possible future serious health issues, are just that, future concerns, so it’s hard to predict what could happen, but then if one has a stroke , and one was not on them, could it have been prevented with statins ? I have gone through all these very thoughts with my own Lp(a) levels and decided to go on them. I feel I have done all I can to try and negate that risk. It’s always down to choice .
 
I had side effects after taking a statin that I hadn't had before, and when I was taken off it and put on a different statin, the side effects went away, so being logical says they were caused by the statin. I seem to be unaffected by the second statin.
 
I was once quite active on the forum but took a break for a few years. I have managed to keep myself Pre Diabetic until the latest HbA1c of 50, I know why this is and know how I can quickly turn this around in the next few months, before my May HbA1c check.

What is more concerning is my dilemma over taking Stains, as my Cholesterol is now 7.3. Historically over 5 years it’s been 7.0 7.1 7.2 and now 7.3 so slowly increasing as I get older, 76. I lead a very active daily life, (see profile) my BP is always good and I have no known coronary issues. Over the years I have not been overly concerned by my high cholesterol readings, just thought that’s what my body runs at and I feel OK.

But now my very caring Health Centre seems to have employed an extremely pushy almost aggressive, dog with a bone, young resident pharmacist. She phones me after blood tests and spends 30minutes and more doing her best to prescribe me statins. I argue my case about Cholesterol, HDL LDL Triglycerides, diet and lifestyle. She quotes horrendous QRISK percentages, which I argue don’t take into account my 150 kilometres a week aerobic exercise on my mountain bike, 5 to 7 miles a day walking my dog, come rain or shine, my diet which is low carb, admittedly high fats, my regular music performances in three different groups. But she still persists that without Statins I am at serious risk, I have to admit she is undermining my confidence in this battle. As a result of her attitude I have been doing lots of research, which unfortunately muddies the water even more.

So Lizzie45 I have also refused the drug every year and Lainie71 I feel about this drug a little like yourself, and as you say Melgar we have to make our own choices and live with consequences, but what a minefield.

At my review with the diabetic nurse we agreed trying to lower my cholesterol over the next 3 months, and then decided about Statins. My fear is that from experience my cholesterol will remain hight and I will be again at the mercy of the resident pharmacist

If anyone can point me to a non bias study on Statins and Cholesterol in T2Diabetics it would be much appreciated.
 
Have you had your Apo-B and Lipoprotein (a) tested @Muddy Cyclist ? They are a far more accurate indicator of CVD /stroke risk than the simple LDL / HDL tests. We all have those done, but they seem not to tell the whole story. My lipid panel was relatively normal, maybe slightly raised, my Triglycerides alternate between very low 0.5 - 0.6. I thought I was fine. Then my Dr tested my Apo-B and Lipoprotein a ‘s . My Apo-B came back normal , but my Lipoprotein (a) results were through the roof, like double the maximum range. If either of those are high then that’s a significant of risk.

The Lipoprotein (a) test is a new test which has been rolled out across the world.
 
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