Statins Shrink Muscle? This New Study Raises Serious Questions

A new large study suggests people who take statins may lose muscle strength and lean mass faster as they age.

Study Mentioned:

Gentreau, M. et al. Statin Use Is Associated With a Decline in Muscle Function and Mass Over Time, Irrespective of Statin Pharmacogenomic Score. J. Cachexia, Sarcopenia Muscle 16, e70132 (2025).

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Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro

0:20 Statins linked to declining muscle strength & function

1:02 Why muscle strength matters for longevity & metabolic health

2:03 Grip strength explained as a marker of whole-body strength

2:56 Key finding: 25% grip strength loss & 73% lean mass decline

3:47 Risk–benefit problem: lowering LDL vs damaging muscle

4:47 Statins, GLP-1 suppression, and increased diabetes risk

5:43 Statins vs aging: accelerated strength loss over time

6:37 Study figures: statin users vs never-users compared

7:19 Creatine’s role in strength, cognition, hydration, and mood

8:13 German vs Chinese creatine: purity & impurity differences

9:18 Study conclusion: accelerated muscle loss regardless of genetics

10:17 Athlete experiences: real-world strength loss on statins

11:16 Mechanism: HMG-CoA reductase, CoQ10, and mitochondrial energy

12:27 Broader harms: diabetes risk, muscle atrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction

13:21 Final takeaway: questions patients should ask their doctor