Statins are a type of cholesterol-reducing drug that lower the levels of fats (lipids) in the blood, including cholesterol and triglycerides. Statins work by blocking the production of a specific enzyme used by the body to make cholesterol. They are effective in lowering blood fat levels in patients with high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) and are therefore helpful in the prevention of coronary, cerebrovascular and peripheral vascular disease.

Other types of cholesterol reducing drugs include fibrates, bile acid resins, nicotinic acid and ezetimibe. All are commonly used to treat high cholesterol, but statins are considered the first line of treatment for patients with this condition.

While all cholesterol-lowering drugs are effective to some degree in lowering blood fat levels, statins are particularly effective at lowering levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol and – to a lesser degree – triglycerides. Statins have been shown to decrease LDL levels between 30 and 60 percent, depending on the kind of statin and the dosage. While statins do increase levels of HDL “good” cholesterol, they do not seem to increase those levels as well as nicotinic acid.

Recent studies suggest that statins have a mild anti-inflammatory action and may reduce blood levels of C-reactive protein, an indicator of inflammation in the body. C-reactive protein is proving to be a useful “marker” for predicting heart disease and stroke, which are associated with inflammation of the blood vessel walls.

There are currently six statins approved for sale in the United States. They are:

Although the statins are used interchangeably to reduce LDL cholesterol, studies have shown differences in the degree of effectiveness and the possible side effects associated with various statins. In particular, rosuvastatin has shown the greatest ability to reduce LDL cholesterol, while low-dose fluvastatin is the least potent statin. Because side effects tend to occur at higher dosages, the goal of therapy to find the lowest dose of the least potent statin that yields acceptable results.

To reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, statins may be prescribed for individuals who have multiple risk factors for heart-related problems, including:

• Family history of heart disease
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Low HDL ("good") cholesterol