Statins and Diabetes Risk

Abstract

Statins are a class of drugs that inhibit the HMG Co-A reductase enzyme and subsequently reduce the cholesterol levels. HMG Co-A reductase enzyme is involved in the cholesterol synthesis in the liver and accounts for 70% of the production of total body cholesterol. High cholesterol levels attribute to cardiovascular disease in high-risk individuals. Statins have been found to reduce CVD endpoints in the initial stages of the disease (secondary prevention) but evidence is still weak to support statin therapy in those without CVD but with high cholesterol levels (primary prevention). Statins are also associated with certain adverse effects like muscle pain, incident diabetes and elevated liver enzymes and occasionally muscle damage; although very rare. In this review I shall explore one of these adverse effects of statin therapy particularly the link between statins and incident diabetes in the following report and try to shed some light into this controversial topic.