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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
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