The authors of the study, published in the July 31, 2007, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), based their conclusions on nearly 23 studies involving statin drugs such as Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor which lower cholesterol. More than 41,000 patients participated in the trials.
After evaluating the side effects of these drugs, researchers found an extra case of cancer for every 1,000 patients with low LDL (low-density lipoprotein) levels compared to higher LDL levels.
Scientists now say that taking multiple medications rather than high-dose statins can minimize those side effects. Though the findings are preliminary, further studies will be needed to determine whether the cancer is caused as a side effect of the drugs or a function of low levels of this type of cholesterol.
Science Daily quotes lead author Richard Karas, professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston as saying, "The demonstrated benefits of statins in lowering the risk of heart disease remain clear; however certain aspects of lowering LDL with statins remain controversial and merit further research."
However, the investigators also found that liver toxicity levels increased with higher statin dosage. They were not able to find any link between lowering LDL and liver or muscle irritation.
