The benefits of taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are very clear: reduced risk of heart attack and stroke (of course you should never take statins or any other prescription medication without consulting with our provider first). New research indicates that men in their late 40s and early 50s who take statins for five years may enjoy the same benefits 20 years later.
The men were a follow-up to the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study, which began in the early 1990s and was one of the first studies to analyze the results of statin therapy.
Dr Chris Packard, a researcher at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, said that taking statins somehow alters “natural history of the disease in some way by lowering LDL cholesterol.” Dr. Josh Bloom, with the American Council on Science and Health (who was not involved in the study), went a bit further, suggesting that the statins may actually change—possibly permanently—the physiology of the liver.
Packard also found that 20 years after the initial study:
- Risk of heart failure was reduced by 31%
- Coronary heart disease was reduced 27%
- Death from all causes was reduced by 13%
While these results are great news for anyone currently taking statins (or considering it). However, we strongly recommend that you consult with your provider before getting off of any prescribed medication.
