The Effect of Atorvastatin on Habitual Physical Activity among Healthy Adults

The Effect of Atorvastatin on Habitual Physical Activity among Healthy Adults. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 1- 6, 2016. Purpose: Statin therapy can result in muscle pain, cramps, and weakness that may limit physical activity, although reports are mixed. We conducted a randomized control trial to examine the effect of atorvastatin on habitual physical activity levels in a large sample of healthy adults. Methods: Participants ( n = 418) were statin- naive adults ( 44.0 +/- 16.1 yr ( mean +/- SD)) who were randomized and double- blinded to 80 mg center dot d(-1) of atorvastatin or placebo for 6 months. Accelerometers were worn for 96 h before and after drug treatment. Repeated- measures analysis tested physical activity levels after versus those before drug treatment among groups with age and VO2max as covariates. Results: In the total sample, sedentary behavior increased ( 19.5 +/- 5.1 min center dot d(-1)), whereas light-intensity ( 9.1 +/- 3.0 min center dot d(-1)) and moderate- intensity ( 9.7 +/- 2.8 min center dot d(-1)) physical activity decreased, as did total activity counts ( 17.8 +/- 6.3 d j1 X 10 (-3)) over 6 months ( P < 0.01), with no differences between groups. The atorvastatin group increased sedentary behavior ( 19.8 +/- 7.4 min center dot d j1) and decreased light- intensity ( 10.7 +/- 4.3 minId j1) and moderate- intensity ( 8.5 +/- 4.0 min center dot d(-1)) physical activity ( P < 0.05). On the other hand, the placebo group increased sedentary behavior ( 19.2 +/- 7.1 min center dot d(-1)) and decreased moderate- intensity ( 11.0 +/- 3.8 min center dot d (-1)) and total physical activity counts (-23.8 +/- 8.8 X 10(-3) d (-1)) ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Time being sedentary increased and physical activity levels decreased in the total sample over 6 months of drug treatment, independent of group assignment. Our results suggest that statins do not influence physical activity levels any differently from placebo, and the lack of inclusion of a placebo condition may provide insight into inconsistencies in the literature.