By David Liu, PHD

Thursday Aug 09, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking statins of all sorts can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to a study published July 30, 2012 in British Journal of Clinical Pahrmacology.

The study led by N.L. Zaharan of University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia showed men and women who took statins were at 18 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The study was based on data from the Irish Health Services Executive Primary Care Reimbursement Services national pharmacy claims database.  In the study, 239,628 patients were identified as newly taking statins from Jan 1, 2002 through Dec 2007 and 38,503 patients as patients newly treated with antidiabetic meidcations.

The study also found not all statins had the same magnitude of diabetes promoting effect.  Rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, and simvastatin were associated with 41, 23, and 15 percent increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.  The duration and overall dose was also positively correlated with the risk except that fluvastatin only had a duration effect.

Statins are indicated for lowering of serum levels of cholesterol, which is believed by some medical workers to be positively associated with heart disease although many others believe cholesterol may only play a minor role in the cardiovascular disease.  Statins can effectively lower cholesterol, but for people who have had no prior heart conditions, the benefit from statins is slim, according to previous studies.

Statins have been known to be associated with cognitive loss, neuropathy, anemia, acidosis, frequent fevers, cataracts, sexual dysfunction, cancer, pancreatic dysfunction, immune system suppression, muscle problems, polyneuropathy, hepatic dysfunction, and recently type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Statins are also known to promote belly fat, high blood pressure, heart attacks, chronic fatigue, thyroid disruption, and diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and cancer.

Many effective alternatives to statins are available.  The foods or dietary supplements that can help cut serum cholesterol level include plant serols, nuts, omega-3 fatty acid, and red yeast rice among other things.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus risk can be  drastically reduced by taking curcumin supplements, a new study has found.