title: The Effect of Atorvastatin on Habitual Physical Activity among Healthy Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statin therapy can result in muscle pain, cramps, and weakness that may limit physical activity, although reports are mixed. We conducted a randomized control trial to examine the effect of atorvastatin on habitual physical activity levels in a large sample of healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n = 418) were statin-naive adults (44.0 ± 16.1 yr (mean ± SD)) who were randomized and double-blinded to 80 mg · d(-1) of atorvastatin or placebo for 6 months. Accelerometers were worn for 96 h before and after drug treatment. Repeated-measures analysis tested physical activity levels after versus those before drug treatment among groups with age and VO2max as covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the total sample, sedentary behavior increased (19.5 ± 5.1 min · d(-1)), whereas light-intensity (9.1 ± 3.0 min · d(-1)) and moderate-intensity (9.7 ± 2.8 min · d(-1)) physical activity decreased, as did total activity counts (17.8 ± 6.3 d × 10(-3)) over 6 months (P < 0.01), with no differences between groups. The atorvastatin group increased sedentary behavior (19.8 ± 7.4 min · d(-1)) and decreased light-intensity (10.7 ± 4.3 min · d(-1)) and moderate-intensity (8.5 ± 4.0 min · d(-1)) physical activity (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the placebo group increased sedentary behavior (19.2 ± 7.1 min · d(-1)) and decreased moderate-intensity (11.0 ± 3.8 min · d(-1)) and total physical activity counts (-23.8 ± 8.8 × 10(-3) d(-1)) (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Time being sedentary increased and physical activity levels decreased in the total sample over 6 months of drug treatment, independent of group assignment. Our results suggest that statins do not influence physical activity levels any differently from placebo, and the lack of inclusion of a placebo condition may provide insight into inconsistencies in the literature.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Cardiology, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT; 2Department of Health Sciences, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT; 3Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; and 4School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Panza
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Erhard
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chipkin
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keadle
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pescatello
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000069059:Atorvastatin