Does Statins Cause Weight Gain? This question has been asked for many years… Thankfully as a result of recent studies, scientists have finally agreed and come to a solid conclusion on the debate and developed alternatives to statins.
Introduction: What are Statins?
Statins are a type of drug that lower the levels of cholesterol in your blood. They are usually prescribed to people who have high cholesterol levels or those who have had a heart attack or stroke.
Statins are a type of drug that lowers the level of cholesterol in your blood by blocking an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase. Statins work by preventing this enzyme from converting certain fats (known as “lipids”) into other chemicals (known as “sterols”) that lead to higher cholesterol levels.
Statins work by preventing this enzyme from converting certain fats into other chemicals that lead to higher cholesterol levels.
Statins were first developed in the late 1960s and have been used to treat high cholesterol since 1987.
Statins are not new to the medical world and have been used to lower cholesterol for many years now. The term “Statin” is a term for a group of drugs with the aim of reducing the amount of cholesterol in your blood.
Statins can increase the amount of time the average person lives and reduce cancer rates.
High Cholesterol is Bad!
A waxy molecule called cholesterol is present in everyone’s blood. Although your body requires cholesterol to create healthy cells, having too much of it might raise your chance of developing heart disease.
You can form fatty deposits in your blood vessels if you have high cholesterol. Over time, these deposits thicken and restrict the amount of blood that can pass through your arteries. These deposits can occasionally unexpectedly separate and create a clot that results in a heart attack or stroke.
Although high cholesterol can be inherited, it’s usually brought on by poor lifestyle choices, making it both curable and preventive. In certain cases, medication as well as a good diet and regular exercise can help lower high cholesterol.
High cholesterol is a condition known as hyperlipidemia
High Cholesterol has NO Symptoms
That’s right... High cholesterol has zero symptoms for the majority of people! This is why it is sometimes referred to as the silent killer.
Poor lifestyle choices including diet, nutrition, and lack of exercise can contribute to increased cholesterol levels in your body.
The ONLY way to detect cholesterol levels is from a blood test or as commonly referred a “Lipid Panel”
A lipid panel will be requested by your doctor in order to determine your cholesterol level. The distinction between “good” (HDL) and “bad” cholesterol (LDL).
LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, can accumulate in your arteries and decrease blood flow, which may result in a heart attack or stroke. Since high cholesterol has no signs or symptoms, a blood test is essential.
In contrast to cholesterol, triglycerides are a separate kind of blood fat. Similar to how high LDL cholesterol can lead to artery hardening, excessive triglycerides can also do so.
What are the ideal levels of Cholesterol?
The ideal level of HDL cholesterol is greater than 45 mg of cholesterol per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood.
Less than 130 mg/dL is the target level for LDL.
Triglycerides ought to be under 150 mg/dL
How often should you get a Cholesterol Blood Test?
The NHLBI advises men and women between the ages of 45 and 65 to get cholesterol testing every one to two years, respectively. Every year, those over 65 should get their cholesterol checked.
Your doctor could advise more regular measures if your test results aren’t within acceptable ranges. If you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease, or other risk factors like diabetes or high blood pressure, your doctor may also advise more regular testing.
How do Statins Work?
Statins work by inhibiting an enzyme in the liver called HMG-CoA reductase, which is responsible for making cholesterol in the blood.
When HMG-CoA reductase is inhibited, less cholesterol and less LDL are made. When LDL is not produced, cholesterol will not be deposited on the walls of arteries.
This reduces the chances of blood clots and atherosclerosis.
Statins are usually taken once a day or at bedtime with a low-fat meal as directed by your doctor.
The latest research has concluded that 25 Million Americans are currently being prescribed statins
There are roughly 127 million Americans over age 45. Presuming that there hasn’t been a big drop off in use since 2005-2008 (the latest period for the government health survey upon which these statistics are based) almost 32 million Americans take a statin. That’s the equivalent of the entire populations of Florida and Illinois combined.
Harvard Health Publishing (HHP)
What are the different types of Statins?
The most common statin is called atorvastatin. The most common statins prescribed nationwide are as follows:
- atorvastatin (Lipitor)
- fluvastatin (Lescol)
- pravastatin (Lipostat)
- rosuvastatin (Crestor)
- simvastatin (Zocor)
What are the Cons of Statins and Should You be Taking them anyhow?
Statins have been proven to reduce the risk of a patient developing heart disease. Like every other drug, yes they can have side effects, but they are generally safe to take. They can have side effects, but they are generally safe to take.
Side effects of statins occur in 25% of patients and can include:
- Weakness
- Muscle pain
- Cramps
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Skin Rashes
- Weight Gain
But the side effect we will focus on in this article is Does Statins Cause Weight Gain?
Does Statins Cause Weight Gain?
A study has found that statin use is associated with an increased risk of obesity and weight gain.
In this study, they found that people who take statins had a higher chance of becoming obese than people who didn’t take them. They also found that people taking statins gained more weight than those not on the drugs.
Why do Statins Cause Weight Gain?
There are many reasons for unwanted weight gain when taking statins.
- Statins inhibit an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase which is responsible for the production of cholesterol in the liver cells.
- Statin users may wrongly feel that they have a free pass and a valid reason to “pig out” and eat excessive calories.
- People taking statins often suffer side effects which can lead to agoraphobia, and increased appetite.
- Several studies have highlighted that people taking statins do not have a nutritionally balanced diet.
Statin Alternatives that Don’t Cause Weight Gain or Side Effects
Scientists now agree that statins are directly responsible as contributing factors to obesity and weight gain.
Breaking new research has developed and released two new cholesterol-reducing drugs which are not statins and do not cause weight gain in patients. They are however still quite expensive.
- Repatha (Evolocumab), cuts bad cholesterol by 50%
- Praluent (Alirocumab)
Repatha (Evolocumab)
Repatha is a new non-statin medication that lowers blood fat levels and does not cause unwanted weight gain and obesity.
Patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol levels brought on by a genetic abnormality), homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (a severe form of high blood cholesterol inherited from both parents), and mixed dyslipidemia are treated with it in order to lower blood fat levels (abnormal levels of different fats, including cholesterol).
Patients with atherosclerosis (thickened artery walls) who have experienced a heart attack, stroke, or other circulatory system issues can also use it to lower their chance of developing heart issues (atherosclerotic heart disease).
Repatha is taken in conjunction with a statin or with other drugs that reduce fat. For people who are unable to take statins, Repatha can also be administered without one. Some sufferers are to follow a low-fat diet if necessary.
Evolocumab is the active ingredient in Repatha.
Praluent (Alirocumab)
Praluent has the active ingredient Alirocumab and is also a non-statin cholesterol-reducing drug.
Adults with heart disease and high cholesterol can take Praluent to lower their risk of heart attack, stroke, and certain kinds of unstable angina that necessitate hospitalization.
Praluent is used in individuals with primary hyperlipidemia, a condition marked by high blood cholesterol levels (including a hereditary form of high cholesterol known as heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia), either alone or in combination with other medications that decrease cholesterol.
This disorder may result in elevated LDL cholesterol levels in the blood as well as artery plaque buildup.
Along with other LDL-lowering medications, Praluent is also used in adults who require further LDL-C reduction and have a kind of elevated cholesterol known as homozygous.
Praluent will not cause obesity and weight gain.
Conclusion: Does Statins Cause Weight Gain?
Yes, Statins do contribute to obesity and unwanted weight gain. It is highly recommended that you discuss alternative non-statin options with your doctor. The recommended alternatives to prevent weight gain are either Repatha (Evolocumab) or Praluent (Alirocumab).