title: Dietary fish oil plus lovastatin decreases both VLDL and LDL apo B production in miniature pigs.
abstract: Our previous apolipoprotein (apo) B kinetic studies of miniature pigs fed fish oil (Maxepa) demonstrated that very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) apo B concentrations were markedly reduced but that low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations were only modestly lowered because of a threefold increase in the conversion of VLDL apo B to LDL. In the present study, the effect of Maxepa plus lovastatin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, on apo B metabolism was assessed. Miniature pigs (n = 6) were simultaneously injected with autologous 131I-VLDL and 125I-LDL after a diet of pig chow supplemented with 30 g/day of Maxepa and again after the addition of lovastatin, 30 mg/day. Kinetic data were analyzed by compartmental analysis with use of the CONSAM program. Compared with Maxepa alone, the addition of lovastatin reduced VLDL apo B concentrations by 21% (p less than 0.003) because of reduced VLDL apo B production (26%, p less than 0.005), as the fractional clearance rate was not affected. Conversion of VLDL apo B to LDL was reduced by 48% (p less than 0.005), and the direct removal of VLDL apo B from plasma was reduced by 25% (p less than 0.01). Maxepa plus lovastatin reduced LDL apo B concentrations by 44% (p less than 0.004). This was due to a 38% (p less than 0.002) decrease in LDL production, which was primarily derived from VLDL. The LDL apo B fractional catabolic rate was not significantly changed. Thus, a combination of Maxepa and lovastatin reduces both VLDL and LDL apo B concentrations, primarily by decreasing production rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Huff
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Telford
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D005395:Fish Oils; D008055:Lipids; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D008148:Lovastatin