Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment Approaches

Statins are essential in preventing cardiovascular diseases by lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Landmark trials like 4S and HPS demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular events and mortality with statin use. Statins inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis and upregulate LDL receptors, impr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Natalia Śliwa, Bartosz Dądela, Eliza Kawalska, Emilia Majewska, Szymon Gnitecki, Maciej Borowski, Szymon Janczura, Kacper Zielonka, Marcin Markowski, Joanna Jasińska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 2025-06-01
Series:Quality in Sport
Subjects:
Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61202
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849417382243598336
author Natalia Śliwa
Bartosz Dądela
Eliza Kawalska
Emilia Majewska
Szymon Gnitecki
Maciej Borowski
Szymon Janczura
Kacper Zielonka
Marcin Markowski
Joanna Jasińska
author_facet Natalia Śliwa
Bartosz Dądela
Eliza Kawalska
Emilia Majewska
Szymon Gnitecki
Maciej Borowski
Szymon Janczura
Kacper Zielonka
Marcin Markowski
Joanna Jasińska
author_sort Natalia Śliwa
collection DOAJ
description Statins are essential in preventing cardiovascular diseases by lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Landmark trials like 4S and HPS demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular events and mortality with statin use. Statins inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis and upregulate LDL receptors, improving endothelial function and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. However, adverse effects can lead to discontinuation. Musculoskeletal symptoms, including myalgia and rhabdomyolysis, affect 5-20% of patients, often linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and coenzyme Q10 depletion. Hepatotoxicity, although less frequent, presents as elevated transaminases, particularly with lipophilic statins. Statins may also increase new-onset diabetes risk by 9-12%, potentially due to impaired insulin signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction. Cognitive effects remain controversial, with some reports of memory impairment, especially with lipophilic statins. Managing statin intolerance involves dose reduction, switching to hydrophilic statins, or coenzyme Q10 supplementation. Alternative therapies for statin-intolerant patients include ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, and bempedoic acid. Lifestyle interventions like a Mediterranean diet and regular exercise further support cardiovascular health while minimizing adverse effects.
format Article
id doaj-art-6456c68bdcff46e89e90cadac1291957
institution Kabale University
issn 2450-3118
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
record_format Article
series Quality in Sport
spelling doaj-art-6456c68bdcff46e89e90cadac12919572025-08-20T03:32:51ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-06-014210.12775/QS.2025.42.61202Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment ApproachesNatalia Śliwahttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-9829-1915Bartosz Dądela0https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2408-9812Eliza Kawalska1https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8244-6459Emilia Majewska2https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3043-1104Szymon Gnitecki3https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6839-6207Maciej Borowski4https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0789-804XSzymon Janczura5https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4214-4014Kacper Zielonka6https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5149-7786Marcin Markowski7https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5497-1138Joanna Jasińska8https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2496-1355Maria Skłodowska-Curie Provincial Specialist Hospital in Zgierz, Parzęczewska 35, 95-100 Zgierz, PolandHospital of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Wołomin,  Gdyńska 1/3, 05-200 Wołomin, PolandDr. Tytus Chałubiński Specialist Hospital in Radom,  Adolfa Tochtermana 1, 26-610 Radom, PolandProvincial Multi-Specialist Center of Oncology and Traumatology  M. Copernicus in Łódź,  Pabianicka 62, 93-513 Łódź. Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz,  Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź, Poland  Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz,  Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź, Poland Maria Skłodowska-Curie Provincial Specialist Hospital in Zgierz,  Parzęczewska 35, 95-100 Zgierz, PolandMedical University of Łódź,  Kościuszki 4, 90-419, Łódź, Poland  Central Clinical Hospital of Medical University of Lodz,  Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź, PolandStatins are essential in preventing cardiovascular diseases by lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Landmark trials like 4S and HPS demonstrated significant reductions in cardiovascular events and mortality with statin use. Statins inhibit hepatic cholesterol synthesis and upregulate LDL receptors, improving endothelial function and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. However, adverse effects can lead to discontinuation. Musculoskeletal symptoms, including myalgia and rhabdomyolysis, affect 5-20% of patients, often linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and coenzyme Q10 depletion. Hepatotoxicity, although less frequent, presents as elevated transaminases, particularly with lipophilic statins. Statins may also increase new-onset diabetes risk by 9-12%, potentially due to impaired insulin signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction. Cognitive effects remain controversial, with some reports of memory impairment, especially with lipophilic statins. Managing statin intolerance involves dose reduction, switching to hydrophilic statins, or coenzyme Q10 supplementation. Alternative therapies for statin-intolerant patients include ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, and bempedoic acid. Lifestyle interventions like a Mediterranean diet and regular exercise further support cardiovascular health while minimizing adverse effects. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61202statinsHMG-CoAMyopathyliver diseasecholesterolPCSK9
spellingShingle Natalia Śliwa
Bartosz Dądela
Eliza Kawalska
Emilia Majewska
Szymon Gnitecki
Maciej Borowski
Szymon Janczura
Kacper Zielonka
Marcin Markowski
Joanna Jasińska
Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment Approaches
Quality in Sport
statins
HMG-CoA
Myopathy
liver disease
cholesterol
PCSK9
title Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment Approaches
title_full Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment Approaches
title_fullStr Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment Approaches
title_full_unstemmed Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment Approaches
title_short Statin Intolerance and Adverse Effects in Lipid-Lowering Therapy – Pathomechanisms, Management Strategies, and Alternative Treatment Approaches
title_sort statin intolerance and adverse effects in lipid lowering therapy pathomechanisms management strategies and alternative treatment approaches
topic statins
HMG-CoA
Myopathy
liver disease
cholesterol
PCSK9
url https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/61202
work_keys_str_mv AT nataliasliwa statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT bartoszdadela statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT elizakawalska statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT emiliamajewska statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT szymongnitecki statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT maciejborowski statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT szymonjanczura statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT kacperzielonka statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT marcinmarkowski statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches
AT joannajasinska statinintoleranceandadverseeffectsinlipidloweringtherapypathomechanismsmanagementstrategiesandalternativetreatmentapproaches