This paper was published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2015 Feb 6:1-11
Study title and authors:
Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms.
Okuyama H, Langsjoen PH, Hamazaki T, Ogushi Y, Hama R, Kobayashi T, Uchino H.
Nagoya City University and Institute for Consumer Science and Human Life, Kinjo Gakuin University, 2-1723 Omori, Moriyama, Nagoya 463-8521, Japan.
Dr Harumi Okuyama and his team from the Nagoya City University in Japan discuss the mechanisms of how statins may cause atherosclerosis and heart failure.
Dr Okuyama states:
(i) In contrast to the current belief that cholesterol reduction with statins decreases atherosclerosis, we present a perspective that statins may be causative in coronary artery calcification and can function as mitochondrial toxins that impair muscle function in the heart and blood vessels through the depletion of coenzyme Q10 and 'heme A', and thereby ATP generation.
(ii) Statins inhibit the synthesis of vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 protects arteries from calcification.
(iii) Statins inhibit the biosynthesis of selenium containing proteins. An impairment of selenoprotein biosynthesis may be a factor in congestive heart failure.
Dr Okuyama concludes: "The epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs".
Links to other studies:
Statin treatment may lead to heart failure
Statin therapy leads to worsening of left ventricular diastolic function in 71% of patients
Statins should not be given to patients with heart failure
