Why do statins increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus? Inhibition of drug target is at least partly responsible.... Statins increase the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus. We aimed to assess whether this increase in risk is a consequence of inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), the intended drug target..
The effects of statins in each randomised trial were assessed using meta-analysis.Data were available for up to 223 463 individuals from 43 genetic studies. Each additional rs17238484-G allele was associated with a mean 0·06 mmol/L (95% CI 0·05—0·07) lower LDL cholesterol and higher body weight (0·30 kg, 0·18—0·43), waist circumference (0·32 cm, 0·16—0·47), plasma insulin concentration (1·62%, 0·53—2·72), and plasma glucose concentration (0·23%, 0·02—0·44). The rs12916 SNP had similar effects on LDL cholesterol, bodyweight, and waist…
