When lifestyle and dietary changes fail to do the job, physicians turn to a class of medications called statins. Statins are a commonly prescribed to treat high cholesterol, and have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol and prevent other complications such as atherosclerosis, or heart disease.

Nearly 28% of Americans between the ages of 40 and 59 use cholesterol-lowering statins, yet less than half of adults with high LDL levels are receiving treatment. Statins are found under brands names such as Lipitor, Crestor, Mevacor, Pravacol, and Zocor. Statins work by reducing production of cholesterol by the liver, blocking the enzyme used by the liver to produce cholesterol, HMG CoA Reductase.

The Liver & Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance similar to fat that is found in every cell of the body. Two types of cholesterol exist: HDL (high-density lipoproteins), or “good cholesterol”, and LDL (low-density lipoproteins), or “bad cholesterol”.

The liver plays an important role in the regulation of cholesterol. HDL “good cholesterol” helps remove excess cholesterol from the body. LDL “bad cholesterol” creates buildups in the arteries. There’s a lot more to the liver than simply producing cholesterol, and those things are not impacted by statins. We have particles called LDL bad cholesterol floating around in the blood, and its the role of the liver to capture and clear excess cholesterol through tiny receptors.

Without these tiny receptors, too much cholesterol can build up and seep into our artery walls. When this happens, plaque build up occurs, resulting in other complications, like blocked particles which can lead to heart attack or stroke.

The problem many people with high cholesterol face is that by eating lots of saturated and trans fats, along with too much dietary cholesterol, we reduce the number and effectiveness of LDL receptors, and there’s not much statins can do to counteract this damage.