Cholesterol is a fatty, wax-like substance that our bodies need to function properly. It helps build cells and produce certain hormones. But too much cholesterol—especially a type called LDL or “bad” cholesterol—can build up in the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries and raises the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
To lower high cholesterol, doctors often prescribe medications known as statins. These drugs work by reducing the liver’s ability to produce cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol. Statins are effective for many people, but not everyone can take them.
Some people who use statins experience unpleasant side effects, such as muscle pain or joint aches, which can make it hard to continue treatment. Others may find that statins don’t lower their cholesterol enough, even when taken regularly.
Now, there’s a promising alternative: bempedoic acid. This newer medication has been gaining attention as a good option for people who can’t tolerate statins or need extra help reducing their cholesterol.
Recent research, presented at a major meeting of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, shows that bempedoic acid can lower LDL cholesterol by about 21%. The study, called the CLEAR Outcomes Trial, also found that the medication reduced the risk of serious heart-related problems—like heart attacks and strokes—by 13%.
The study focused on people who had trouble taking statins due to side effects or other reasons. Despite not using statins, these patients still saw major benefits from bempedoic acid. This raises an important question: Can bempedoic acid provide the same heart-protective benefits as statins?
The answer appears to be yes. When researchers looked deeper into the results, they found that for each drop in LDL cholesterol, the reduction in heart risk with bempedoic acid was similar to that seen with statins. This means that bempedoic acid doesn’t just lower cholesterol—it also helps protect the heart.
This finding is especially important because heart disease remains the number one cause of death around the world. Millions of people need reliable, effective treatments to manage their cholesterol and reduce their risk of heart-related illness. For people who can’t use statins or need more help, bempedoic acid could be a valuable new option.
Dr. A. Michael Lincoff, a lead researcher in the study from the Cleveland Clinic, emphasized the importance of having more tools to fight heart disease. He noted that bempedoic acid offers a new way to help people lower their cholesterol and reduce the danger of cardiovascular events.
Bempedoic acid is taken by mouth and works in the liver—where cholesterol is made—but unlike statins, it does not affect muscle tissue, which may be why it causes fewer muscle-related side effects.
The progress seen with bempedoic acid is a great example of how medical research continues to improve the way we prevent and treat serious health problems. It gives doctors and patients another option in the fight against heart disease and shows how innovation can lead to better care and longer, healthier lives.
If you or someone you know struggles with high cholesterol and can’t take statins, it’s worth talking to a doctor about whether bempedoic acid might be right for you.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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