Finding out why statins sometimes cause muscle pain and weakness

Determination of the mechanism for statin-induced myopathy: the cause and consequences of increased sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium leak

Statins are medicines taken by millions of people in the UK as an effective way to lower their risk of having a heart attack or a stroke. However, some people who take statins develop a side-effect that causes muscle pain and weakness, particularly during exercise. This is one reason why people may stop taking statins. Dr Sarah Calaghan’s team from the University of Leeds will test their idea that increased levels of calcium in muscle cells, which is released from a special store inside the cells, causes the muscle damage. This calcium release could be a consequence of the lower levels of cholesterol circulating in the body as a result of statin treatment. Although the cholesterol-lowering action of statins is beneficial in terms of heart health, it may have damaging effects on the normal function of skeletal muscle. The researchers will study statin treatment in rats to try to confirm these findings, looking in particular at the effects on calcium levels, muscle function, and exercise ability as measured on a running wheel. Statins are an important treatment in the fight against heart and circulatory disease and research such as this will ensure that more people continue to take their statin treatment.