Statins, fibrates and beta blockers increase fatigue during moderate intensity exercise

This study was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 1997 Mar;43(3):291-300

 

Study title and authors:

The effects of combined treatment with beta 1-selective receptor antagonists and lipid-lowering drugs on fat metabolism and measures of fatigue during moderate intensity exercise: a placebo-controlled study in healthy subjects.

Eagles CJ, Kendall MJ.

Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9088584

This study examined the effects of different combinations of beta blockers (metoprolol and atenolol) and cholesterol-lowering drugs (fluvastatin and bezafibrate), on fatigue during moderate intensity exercise in healthy young volunteers. The study included 14 healthy men and women, average age 21.9 years, who completed five, 90 minute walks after been treated with either four different combinations of metoprolol or atenolol and fluvastatin or bezafibrate, or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Fat oxidation was between 24% to 40 % lower in subjects treated with beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs compared to subjects on placebo. 
(b) Ammonia levels were between 51% to 170 % higher in subjects treated with beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs compared to subjects on placebo. (High ammonia levels can lead to lack of energy and brain damage).
(c) Scores on the feeling scale were significantly lower in subjects treated with beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs compared to subjects on placebo. (i.e. subjects treated with beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs felt worse compared to subjects on placebo).
(d) Subjects treated with beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs found it took between 12% to 40% more perceived cardiorespiratory effort to complete the walks compared to subjects on placebo.
(e) Subjects treated with beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs found it took between 22% to 40% more perceived leg effort to complete the walks compared to subjects on placebo.
(f) Subjects treated with beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs suffered 22% to 45% more perceived leg pain compared to subjects on placebo.

In healthy volunteers, this study revealed that combinations of beta blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs were associated with increased fatigue during moderate intensity exercise.