The study of 81,880 British fracture patients and a comparison group found no connection between the use of statins and the risk of broken bones. That drug, sold as Actonel, is not a statin. The findings follow three recent reports suggesting that statins, taken by about 8 million Americans to treat high cholesterol, might have bone-enhancing effects. Those findings were published last June in the Journal of the American Medical Association and The Lancet . Although the results suggest statin users had a lower risk of hip fractures, the researchers said that is probably because some of them were overweight.
Obesity is known to protect against osteoporosis.
Strom noted this is not the first study to suggest statins have little or no bone-enhancing effect. Some of the previous negative studies also suggested a potentially positive effect on hip fractures, he said. Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.