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Statins and their increased risk of inducing diabetes
Aris P Agouridis1,2, Michael S Kostapanos3, Moses S Elisaf2
1a 1 Department of Clinical Biochemistry (Vascular Disease Prevention Clinics), Royal Free London Foundation Trust , Pond Street, London, UK.
Introduction:
Statins are evidence-based drugs to prevent cardiovascular (CV) disease. However, their benefits have been disputed by a statin-related increased risk of new onset diabetes (NOD) in randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses.
Areas Covered:
This review provides an update based on recent outstanding evidence on the statin effect on the risk of diabetes. It also describes mechanisms potentially explaining adverse effects of statins on glucose homeostasis. PubMed was searched for original articles and reviews published from January 2010 (inclusive) to May 2015 (inclusive), which include the Search terms statins, diabetes, glucose, and insulin. NOD risk seems to be more relevant with high-intensity rather than with low-intensity statin treatment. Also, this risk is particularly increased in patients at risk for the development of diabetes. It appears that statins adversely affect glucose homeostasis in parallel with their 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A inhibition capacity. It was suggested that lipophilic statins are more diabetogenic than the hydrophilic ones. Mechanisms explaining statin diabetogeneicity include impaired insulin secretion by pancreatic β cells together with increased insulin resistance of various tissues.
Expert Opinion:
The CV outcome benefits from statin use outweigh the diabetes menace. However, patients at risk for the development of diabetes should be prescribed statins with caution.
Insights
Statins prevent cardiovascular disease but may increase new-onset diabetes risk, especially high-intensity statins in at-risk patients. Cardiovascular benefits generally outweigh diabetes risks, but caution is advised.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Statins are proven cardiovascular disease preventatives.
- A potential increased risk of new-onset diabetes (NOD) with statin use has been debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent evidence on statin use and diabetes risk.
- To explore mechanisms underlying statin-induced glucose homeostasis alterations.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of PubMed for articles published January 2010-May 2015.
- Included search terms: statins, diabetes, glucose, insulin.
- Focused on original articles and reviews.
Main Results:
- Higher intensity statin therapy is associated with greater NOD risk.
- Patients with pre-existing diabetes risk factors experience a more pronounced increase in NOD risk.
- Statins may impair pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion and increase tissue insulin resistance.
Conclusions:
- The cardiovascular benefits of statins outweigh the associated diabetes risk.
- Caution is recommended when prescribing statins to patients at high risk for developing diabetes.
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