April 28th, 2014
Calorie, Fat Consumption Up Among Statin Users
Nicholas Downing, MD
Calorie and fat consumption increased significantly from 1999 to 2010 among statin users — but not among nonusers — according to a JAMA Internal Medicine study. The researchers conclude that “the importance of dietary composition may need to be reemphasized for statin users.”
The researchers evaluated 24-hour dietary recall data from nearly 28,000 adults participating in U.S. nutrition surveys over the 12-year period. They found that among statin users, caloric intake was 10% greater, and fat intake 14% greater, in 2009-2010 than in 1999-2000. No significant increases were observed among nonusers. In addition, statin users had a greater increase in BMI than nonusers did (1.3 vs. 0.4 units).
The authors speculate that statin use “may have undermined the perceived need to follow dietary recommendations.” They add that the aim of statin therapy “should be to allow patients to decrease risks that cannot be decreased without medication, not to empower them to put butter on their steaks.”
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