Owing to the broad indications for statin medications, an ever increasing number of patients are using these therapies. Certainly, there is a benefit to statin use as a means of decreasing cardiovascular disease; but by the same token, there is the observation of decreased athletic performance, muscle injury, myalgia (muscle pain), joint pain, and fatigue. The type of statin, the dose, drug interactions, genetic variants, coenzyme Q10 deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, and underlying muscle diseases are among the factors that may predispose patients to intolerance of statins. When it comes to those seeking Cellular Orthopedic interventions, their fitness and exercise endeavors may result additionally in an intolerance of the combined approach decreasing and treating cardiovascular disease.
Although in general, statins are well tolerated, they can affect skeletal muscle producing symptoms that range from myalgia (muscle pain) to creatine phosph kinase (CPK)-muscle enzyme marker- elevation and rhabdomyolysis (rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle). These statin associated musculoskeletal side effects can be exacerbated by physical activity. Now comes a recently published study reinforcing previous findings that certain types of cholesterol lowing drugs called statins, inhibit Mesenchymal Stem Cells. As you know, MSCs are the body’s reservoir of regenerative potential and are capable of orchestrating regeneration of a wide variety of skeletomscular tissue. In the laboratory and now documented in patients, statins not only interfere with MSC function, the drug increases the aging and death rate of Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Basically, statins are a kind of stem cell poison.
It is important for you, the potential patient to understand that those undergoing a bone marrow aspirate concentrate intervention for arthritis are not only receiving stem cells. The bone marrow concentrate contains in addition to the mesenchymal stem cell, a category of anti-inflammatory molecules called Cytokines and another category of cellular messengers termed Growth Factors. Recent science suggests that latter two groups may be equally or perhaps more important than stem cells in introducing pain relief, increased motion, improved function and reversal of the arthritic progression.
For those of you considering a Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate procedure for an arthritic joint, please don’t act without discussing the use of statins with your physician. Strategies include a reassessment of the need for statin prescription, a decrease in dosage, a change to a hydrophilic statin, a statin holiday prior to and after the Cellular Orthopedic intervention followed by a rechallenge after six weeks, vitamin D replacement, coenzyme Q10 supplementation and/ or L-carnitine supplementation.
There are alternatives for those who are statin dependent and in whom a holiday might be contraindicated. To learn about our full menu of Cellular Orthopedic options, make an appointment
847 390 7666
Tags: arthritis, athletes, bone marrow, Bone Marrow Concentrate, Hip Replacement, Interventional Orthopedics, joint replacement, Knee, Knee Pain Relief, Mature Athlete, medicine, Orthopedic Care, Orthopedics, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, Regenerative, Regenexx, stem cells, technology, treatment