Statin drugs used to lower cholesterol levels also cut the risk of bone fractures in adults, a study said on September 26. In a 2-1/2-year survey of 83,000 mostly male US military veterans, the 28,000 who took statin drugs had roughly a one-third lower risk of fracturing bones compared to those not taking statins or those taking other types of cholesterol-lowering drugs, the report said.
The finding backed up previous research that showed statins lowered bone fracture risk in women, who as they grow older are more susceptible than men to developing brittle bones, the report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine said.
Statins lower cholesterol naturally produced by the liver, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.