Statin medications or HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors are a class of prescription medications given to help lower elevated cholesterol levels. In fact, the prototype, Lipitor, is the number one selling medication in America. Besides the ability to lower cholesterol, statin medications have been touted to have antioxidant properties. However, some research has questioned whether the use of statins actually increases the incidence of cataract development.
According to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, statin use appears to be associated with reduced incidence of cataracts. Researchers evaluated data obtained from the Beaver Dam Eye Study (an observational, longitudinal, population-based study of age-related eye disease in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin). A total of 1299 people who had gradable photographs from a third eye exam between 1998 and 2000 were deemed to be at risk of developing cataracts. Upon follow-up, the five-year incidence of nuclear cataract was calculated to be 12.2% in statin users compared with 17.2% in nonusers, when controlling for age.
This is the first well designed study to evaluate this phenomenon. More studies are needed to confirm whether the relationship is causal. Patients need to weigh the risk of using statin medications due to possible severe side effects. Statins deplete levels of Coenzyme Q10 in the body, so patients who take these types of medications should supplement with a good source of this vital nutrient. Furthermore, if it is the antioxidant effect that is linked to lowered incidence of cataracts, safer ways to achieve this result include dietary sources and supplementation with antioxidant nutrients.
Posted by Dr. Jennifer Stagg on August 13, 2006 04:03 PM
