The Claim

Statin use is independently associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes in Emirati adults after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, family history of diabetes, BMI, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol.

Source: Association Between Long-term Statin Therapy and New-onset Diabetes in Cardiovascular Risk Patients in the UAE.

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
59score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In Emirati adults, taking statins is linked to a higher likelihood of developing diabetes, even when accounting for other factors like age, weight, and cholesterol levels.

See the scientific wording

The association between statin use and new-onset diabetes in Emirati adults remains significant after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, family history of diabetes, BMI, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol, suggesting that statin exposure itself contributes independently to diabetes risk.

Why this might work

Statin drugs block a key step in the body’s cholesterol-making pathway, which also reduces the production of molecules needed for insulin to work properly in muscle and pancreas. This makes it harder for cells to take in sugar from the blood, and the pancreas struggles to release enough insulin over time, leading to higher blood sugar and eventually diabetes.

Suggested mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Association Between Long-term Statin Therapy and New-onset Diabetes in Cardiovascular Risk Patients in the UAE.

    Even when doctors account for things like weight, blood pressure, and family history, people in the UAE who took statins for a long time were still more likely to develop diabetes, suggesting the medicine itself might play a role.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.