Statin users may feel encouraged to eat more because of a perceived protective effect against the negative impacts of high fat and calorie intake.
That’s one suggestion from American scientists who recently published the results of a study into the eating habits of statin users in the US.
The study looked at the calories and fat consumed by users of statins and non-users in the years 1999-2000, and 2009-2010, using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This showed a 10% greater caloric consumption in 2009-2010 statin users than in those of a decade earlier, and over 14% greater fat consumption.
The same trend was not observed among non-statin users, whose fat and calorie intake had stayed almost the same across the same time period.
The researchers warn that the statin users’ eating habits is doubly worrying because consumption of fats – particularly saturated fats – negates the effects of statins leading to elevated cholesterol levels.
The researchers are calling for a reevaluation of dietary recommendations given to patients on statins.
