Some good news about statins
Use of statins might be associated with a lower risk
of age-related macular degeneration, say researchers from Southampton
General Hospital.
In a survey of 379 men and women, 4 per cent of
subjects taking statins (n=27) showed signs of macular degeneration compared
with 22 per cent of subjects who did not take statins (n=352, P=0.02).
The researchers say that statins might prevent the accumulation of abnormal
deposits in the eye, which occurs when plasma cholesterol is raised.
Another proposed mechanism is that the antioxidant
effect of statins might protect the outer retina from damage. Alternatively,
the preservation of ischaemic vasculature, shown in a previous study to
occur with simvastatin use, might maintain the blood supply to the macula
(BMJ 2001;323:375).
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