Trial examines the benefits of statin treatment in lowering blood pressure

Drugs used to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels in adults do not significantly reduce a protein linked to the risk of kidney, eye and cardiovascular disease in young people with type 1 diabetes, a study has found.

Angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and statins do not considerably lessen the levels of albumin in the urine. A high-level of the protein, albumin, is an indication for the risk of further health complications.

A team across the UK, Canada and Australia led a four-year adolescent type 1 diabetes cardio-renal intervention trial in order to understand the long-term complications in young people with type 1 diabetes.

The study screened 4,407 adolescents with type 1 diabetes between ten and 16 years of age.

Teenagers with low levels of albumin in their urine were considered to be at low risk, and were followed for up to four