Statin use increases muscle damage after exercise (including the heart muscle)

This study was published in the American Journal of Cardiology 2011 Oct 27

Study title and authors:

Effect of Statins on Creatine Kinase Levels Before and After a Marathon Run.

Parker BA, Augeri AL, Capizzi JA, Ballard KD, Troyanos C, Baggish AL, D'Hemecourt PA, Thompson PD.

Henry Low Heart Center, Department of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22036108

Elevation of creatine kinase levels is an indication of damage to muscle. It is therefore indicative of injury, rhabdomyolysis (kidney damage), heart attack, inflammation of the muscles and inflammation of the heart muscle.
The study measured total creatine kinase levels, and the levels of creatine kinase in the heart muscle in 37 subjects treated with statins and 43 nonstatin-treated controls running the 2011 Boston Marathon.

The study found:

(a) The exercise-related increase in creatine kinase 24 hours after exercise, was greater in the statin users than in the controls.
(b) The increase in creatine kinase in the heart muscle 24 hours after exercise was also greater in the statin users than in the controls.
(c) Older runners who were statin users had higher increases in creatine kinase.

To conclude: The results of the study show that statins increase exercise-related muscle injury (including the heart muscle).