Cholesterol lowering drugs to cut the chance of a heart attack increase the risk of kidney failure and cataracts, a new study shows. Researchers at Nottingham University found that for every 10,000 women treated with statins for a year there would be 271 fewer cases of heart disease. At the same time, the study of two million patients over six years found there would be 74 extra cases of liver damage, 23 extra cases of kidney failure and 307 extra cases of cataracts. There would also be 39 extra cases of muscle wastage, another known side effect of statins. -- Daily Telegraph, May 21, 2010