Despite the general belief that statins are heart tonic, a new study reports an increased risk of diabetes among those using the cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Previous studies had reported that taking statins lowers the blood levels of bad cholesterol, improves the function of blood vessels and fights inflammation, lowering the risk of cardiovascular events.
According to the study published in The Lancet, individuals taking statins are 9 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. They, however, were considerably at a lower risk of experiencing heart attack or dying.
The absolute risk of developing diabetes in patients on statins is rather low, the study found.
Scientists concluded that the heart-protecting properties of the drug outweigh the risks reported in this study and therefore urged patients to continue taking the medication.
Tags: Diabetes