Statins cause a massive rise in constipation

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 2010 Oct;11(8):572-8

Study title and authors:

Risk factors associated with stool retention assessed by abdominal radiography for constipation.

Gau JT, Walston S, Finamore M, Varacallo CP, Heh V, Kao TC, Heckman TG.

Department of Geriatric Medicine/Gerontology, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM), Athens, OH 45701, USA. gau@oucom.ohiou.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20889093

One of the aims of the study was to identify risk factors associated with constipation. 122 adults aged 65 or over with constipation were included in the study.


The study found:
(a) The use of statins was significantly associated with constipation, with statin users having a 286% increased risk of clinical constipation.
(b) Statin users had a greater severity of stool retention.