This paper was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine 2012 Aug 13:1-2
Study title and authors:
Effects of Statins on Energy and Fatigue With Exertion: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Golomb BA, Evans MA, Dimsdale JE, White HL.
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22688574
The study investigated the impact of statins on energy or exertional fatigue. The study lasted for six months and included 1,016 subjects, (692 men 20 years or older and 324 nonprocreative women), who were allocated to receive either 20-mg simvastatin, 40-mg pravastatin or placebo. The subjects rated their energy and fatigue with exertion levels at the start of the study and after six months.
The study found:
(a) Those taking statins had a significant drop in energy and more fatigue on exertion. Women were more affected than men especially those taking simvastatin.
(b) Four in ten women taking simvastatin cited worsening of energy or exertional fatigue compared to women taking placebo.
(c) Two in ten women taking simvastatin cited worsening of energy and exertional fatigue compared to women taking placebo.
(d) Two in ten women taking simvastatin rated themselves "much worse" energy or exertional fatigue compared to women taking placebo.
(e) One in ten women taking simvastatin rated themselves "much worse" energy and exertional fatigue compared to women taking placebo.
The results of the study show that statin usage leads to a drop in energy levels and a worsening of exertional fatigue.
