In the end, they found people were likely to temporarily stop taking their placebo because of reported side effects. In fact, they were just as likely to stop taking them as the statins and felt better when they weren’t taking any tablets.
According to the authors of the study, it points towards a “nocebo effect” where the negative perceptions people have about statins cause side effects rather than any chemical processes.
They suggest that the side effects, such as aches and pains, might be a natural consequence of ageing.
Doctor James Howard, Clinical Research Fellow at Imperial College London and Cardiologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Our findings are significant because they are further evidence that side effects from statins are minimal.