Researchers from University College London (UCL) and the University of Glasgow have investigated and concluded that statins have a modest effect in increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and bodyweight.

The investigation was carried out using information from genetic studies and clinical trials.

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The study received financial support from Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Rosetrees Trust and National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre.

"The genetic findings of our study help to explain the mechanism by which statins increase weight and diabetes risk."

Around 130,000 participants from clinical trials, which earlier tested the effect of statins on heart disease and stroke, those assigned statins against placebo, or higher against lower doses of statins, showed a small increase in risk of developing type 2 diabetes of about 12% over a four-year period.

The study also revealed that they have gained an excess of around 240g in weight.

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UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science director and co-senior author professor Aroon Hingorani said: "The genetic findings of our study help to explain the mechanism by which statins increase weight and diabetes risk.

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"However, the effects of the genetic variants are orders of magnitude lower than the effects of statins."

Statins are said to work by decreasing the efficiency of a liver enzyme involved in cholesterol production, which causes liver cells to trap more low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from the bloodstream and reduces its circulating level.

This mechanism is believed to underlie the efficacy of statins in reducing the risk of major vascular events.

The UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) suggests that statin treatment need to be provided to people with a 10% or higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next ten years.