Abstract
Introduction Statin-associated muscle symptoms are common side effects of statin therapy. These symptoms include myopathy, myalgia, and rhabdomyolysis. Vitamin D has been associated with musculoskeletal health; thus, its deficiency may produce detrimental effects in this tissue. Indeed, one symptom of vitamin D deficiency is myalgia, and the normalization of low vitamin D levels can relieve it. Patients and Methods This cross-sectional study examined 1210 statin-treated patients to assess vitamin D status. These patients were divided into two groups: 287 with statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) and 923 control patients without SAMS. Results We have found a significant association between deficient and insufficient vitamin D status and statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Vitamin D deficiency (<30 nmol/L) presents 77% (95% C.I. 71.6% to 81.7%) sensitivity and 63.4% (95% C.I. 60.2% to 66.5%) specificity in diagnosing SAMS. Odds ratio analysis showed that this association is moderate-strong both for deficient and for insufficient status. Conclusion We found a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and SAMS. Therefore, vitamin D levels may be useful for the diagnosis and management of SAMS.
Highlights
Statin-associated muscle symptoms are common side effects of statin therapy
Statins act through the reversible block of the hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCoAR), thereby reducing cholesterol synthesis and 7dehydrocholesterol and vitamin D production
Statins are well tolerated, they may produce several side effects, such as muscle weakness, muscle pain or aching stiffness, muscle tenderness, cramps, and arthralgia. These symptoms are defined as statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS), and they can manifest with or without an elevation of creatine kinase (CK) serum concentrations
Summary
Statin-associated muscle symptoms are common side effects of statin therapy These symptoms include myopathy, myalgia, and rhabdomyolysis. This cross-sectional study examined 1210 statin-treated patients to assess vitamin D status These patients were divided into two groups: 287 with statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) and 923 control patients without SAMS. We have found a significant association between deficient and insufficient vitamin D status and statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Statins are well tolerated, they may produce several side effects, such as muscle weakness, muscle pain or aching (myalgia) stiffness, muscle tenderness, cramps, and arthralgia. These symptoms are defined as statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS), and they can manifest with or without an elevation of creatine kinase (CK) serum concentrations. Vitamin D exerts a clear promyogenic effect on satellite cells responsible for the muscle reconstitution after an injury [6], and it boosts muscle performance through the increase in size and amount of type II fast twitch fibers, used predominantly in sustained and anaerobic exercise
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