Statins increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy by 30%

This study was published in the Journal of Diabetes 2012 Nov 1

Study title and authors:
The association of statin use with peripheral neuropathy in the US population 40 years of age or older.

Tierney EF, Thurman DJ, Beckles GL, Cadwell BL.
Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23121724

Peripheral nerves carry information to and from the brain. They also carry signals to and from the spinal cord to the rest of the body. Peripheral neuropathy means these nerves don't work properly. Peripheral neuropathy may be damage to a single nerve. It may be damage to a nerve group. It may also affect nerves in the whole body.

This study assessed the association between statin use and peripheral neuropathy. The study was based on data collected in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) on people aged 40 or over.

The study found that those on statins had a 30% increased risk of peripheral neuropathy.