Vitamin D Doesn't Reduce Statin-Associated Muscle Symptoms: VITAL - TCTMD

Taking vitamin D does not have a significant impact on statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) nor does it prevent patients from stopping their medication because of muscle pain, according to an analysis of the VITAL study.

Over 5 years of follow-up, the rate of SAMS was 31% in both patients who were taking vitamin D and those who were taking placebo in the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)-funded trial.

The rate of statin discontinuation was 13% in the vitamin D- and placebo-treatment groups.

As part of the trial, new statin users were mailed a survey asking about muscle symptoms, including musculoskeletal pain or discomfort persisting for more than a few days while taking the lipid-lowering therapy.

In total, muscle symptoms were reported by 317 (31%) and 325 (31%) of patients in the treatment and placebo groups, a nonsignificant difference.

“Since vitamin D is not effective for SAMS, I would recommend the approach in the 2018 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines, which is based on stopping [statin therapy] for a period, then restarting with a different agent and/or a lower dose,” he said.

Statin-associated muscle symptoms among new statin users randomly assigned to vitamin D or placebo!