Statins is used to lower cholesterol and its use is on the rise with many people dependent on this drug. The new study is done by researchers at the Oregon State University.
For the study, the researchers analyzed 3,071 community living men of age 65 or older belonging to six geographical locations in the US.
The study showed that men who took statins experienced an average of 40 minutes reduced moderate physical activity over a week, compared to those who never consumed statins drugs.
"For an older population that's already pretty sedentary, that's a significant amount less exercise. Even moderate amounts of exercise can make a big difference, said lead researcher.
The researchers also found that new statin users witnessed a major drop in physical activity. The participants were made to wear accelerometers for a week during the study as it helped the researchers track their level of activity per minute.
"This could decrease the benefit of the medication. If someone is already weak, frail, or sedentary, they may want to consider this issue, and consult with their doctor to determine if statin use is still appropriate," added the researcher.
According to estimates, around 35% of the U.S. population takes statins to lower cholesterol levels.
The researchers, however, did not succeed in decoding the mystery why statins cause reduced physical activity.
They said that it is likely that muscle pain can be one of the side-effects of use of statins and it can lead to fatigue and muscle weakness. The research showed that around 5-30 percent of people who take statins experience pain in muscles.
The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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