Many people stop taking cholesterol-lowering statins because of muscle pain, weakness or fatigue. These side effects affect about one in 10 users. New research suggests the symptoms may happen when statins interfere with how muscle cells control calcium, a mineral essential for muscle movement and repair.
Using advanced imaging, scientists found that some statins bind to a protein inside muscle cells that regulates calcium flow. This interaction appears to open channels that let calcium leak into the cells. Over time, even small leaks may weaken muscle fibers or trigger muscle breakdown, helping explain why symptoms can range from mild soreness to more serious damage.
The findings suggest muscle side effects may not be an unavoidable part of statin treatment. Researchers say future drugs could be designed to avoid this interaction or limit calcium leakage. More studies are needed to confirm how common this effect is and whether it can be safely addressed, but the work offers hope that statins could become easier for more people to tolerate.
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