The basis for the side effects of statins has been unraveled by researchers. Statins are used for lowering cholesterol in patients with high blood cholesterol.
Statins - The New Wonder Drug
Statins are new wonder drugs that are proving to be efficacious, not merely in relieving symptoms but also offering several health benefits.
Statins are new wonder drugs that are proving to be efficacious, not merely in relieving symptoms but also offering several health benefits.
‘Statins are one of the top selling drugs worldwide and are used for lowering cholesterol in patients with high blood cholesterol. These drugs act by inhibiting a key enzyme (HMG-CoA Reductase) needed for making cholesterol in the body.’
However, recent work from Prof. Amitabha Chattopadhyay's group at the CSIR-CCMB suggests that statins could induce changes in the architecture of cells as well, possibly leading to the side effects. The cell's architecture, called the cytoskeleton, is made of proteins such as actins, which form polymers. They lie beneath the plasma membrane that surrounds each cell in the human body, and help the cells maintain their shape and size.
Prof Chattopadhyay's study shows that statins could induce polymerisation of actin cytoskeleton, in addition to cholesterol lowering.
Test Your Knowledge on Statins
Statins are a group of drugs which help lower the blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is required for the normal body function but an excess level in the blood causes deposition of the cholesterol in the wall of the blood vessels leading to cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Statins are a group of drugs which help lower the blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is required for the normal body function but an excess level in the blood causes deposition of the cholesterol in the wall of the blood vessels leading to cardiovascular disease and stroke.
"Our results constitute one of the first comprehensive reports dissecting the mechanistic basis underlying the interplay between cellular actin level and cholesterol biosynthesis, and provide a molecular basis for the reported side effects of statin treatment," said Dr Parijat Sarkar, who is the first author of the paper.
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Older Adults Using Statins May Have Lower Risk of Parkinsonism
Older people taking statins have a lower chance of developing parkinsonism later compared to people who were not taking statins.
Older people taking statins have a lower chance of developing parkinsonism later compared to people who were not taking statins.
Source-IANS
Statins Linked to Decreased Death Risk from COVID-19
New study identifies link between statin usage and mortality rates in COVID-19. The researchers noted one limitation of the study which concerns the use of prescription data without the possibility of checking individual drug use.
New study identifies link between statin usage and mortality rates in COVID-19. The researchers noted one limitation of the study which concerns the use of prescription data without the possibility of checking individual drug use.
