> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Statins prevent cardiovascular disease, but safer alternatives available - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/statins_cardiovascular_disease_0407130132/ - Published: 2013-04-07T14:31:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:09:47.000Z - Description: A Cochrane review of 18 randomized trials tied statin use to 14 percent lower all-cause mortality, 25 percent fewer cardiovascular events and 38 percent fewer revascularisations, with no excess adverse effects. The writer notes statins are not cost-effective for everyone. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Drug, Health News, #vivvo-import By David Liu, PHD Sunday April 7, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Statins are safe and effective in preventing cardiovascular disease, according to a review of previous reviews published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Fiona Taylor from Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in London, UK and colleagues found use of statins was associated with 14% reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease. And they also found there is no excess adverse effect associated with statins. It should be noted that early studies have shown that statins are effective in preventing cardiovascular disease mostly in those who have experienced cardiovascular disease in the past. For those who do not have any prior cardiovascular conditions, statins are not cost-effective. The reviewers located previous trials from the reference lists of previous systematic reviews and included in their review were eighteen randomized control trials of which fourteen trials recruited people with specific conditions including elevated lipids, diabetes, hypertension and microalbuminuria. They found use of statins was associated with 14%, 25%, 27% and 22% reduced risk for all-cause mortality, combined fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease, combined fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease events and combined fatal and non-fatal stroke, respectively. Use of statins was also associated with 38% reduced revascularisation rates. And there is no evidence suggesting that statin use caused any harm. The authors concluded "Reductions in all-cause mortality, major vascular events and revascularisations were found with no excess of adverse events among people without evidence of CVD treated with statins." It should be pointed out that the trials used in the review are likely to be designed to examine the preventative effect of statins against cardiovascular disease but not the toxicity of these drugs. Therefore, the conclusion regarding the safety of statins remains actually inconclusive. Previous studies have shown that statins cause muscle pain (and there is a reason for that), raise type 2 diabetes risk and stroke risk, and accelerate cardiovascular disease. Side effects associated with strong doses of statins or a longer period of time include cognitive loss, neuropathy, anemia, acidosis, frequent fevers, cataracts, and sexual dysfunction. Other serious side effects include increased cancer risk, immune system suppression, serious degenerative muscle tissue condition, pancreatic dysfunction and hepatic dysfunction. Safe alternatives that are as effective as statins are available including plant sterols, fish oil and red yeast rice among other things. A plant-based diet is the best guarantee for cardiovascular health. Studies show that patients with cardiovascular disease can stop or even reverse their conditions in many cases by simply following a plant-based diet, according to Dr. T Colin Campbell, Cornell University nutrition professor.