title: Simvastatin in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: effect on serum lipids, lipoproteins and haemostatic measures.
abstract: The clinical efficacy of the 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor simvastatin in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM), was examined in a double-blind placebo-controlled study of 6 months in 70 patients with NIDDM (age 25-70 years), of whom 57 were randomised to placebo (29 patients) or simvastatin for 6 months, following a 3-month run-in on diet. Patients were hypercholesterolaemic (7.8 (7.6-8.0) (mean (95% confidence intervals)) mmol/l simvastatin vs. 8.0 (7.7-8.5) mmol/l placebo) and mildly hypertriglyceridaemic (2.6 (2.2-3.0) simvastatin vs. 2.9 (2.3-3.5) placebo). Other lipid measures and estimates of glycaemic control and haemostasis were similar in both groups. There were no significant changes in lipids, haemostatic factors, or measures of glycaemic control in the placebo treatment group. Conversely by the end of 24 weeks, simvastatin produced a 28% reduction in cholesterol (to 5.6 (5.0-6.2) mmol/l (P < 0.001)), a 38% reduction in LDL cholesterol (from 5.5 (5.4-5.6) mmol/l to 3.4 (2.8-4.0) mmol/l, P < 0.001), a 15% reduction in triglyceride (to 2.2 (1.8-2.6) mmol/l, P < 0.05, and a 9% rise in HDL (from 1.16 (1.07-1.25) to 1.23 (1.14-1.32) mmol/l, P < 0.05). Improvements in apolipoprotein B (apo B) (-28%, P < 0.001), the LDL cholesterol to apo B ratio (-20%, P < 0.001), and apo A1 (+15%, P < 0.001) were recorded. There were no effects upon fibrinogen, factor VII activity, factor VIII activity, or measures of glycaemic control (fasting glucose, insulin, C-peptide, or HbA1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farrer
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Winocour
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Neil
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Laker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kesteven
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Alberti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000032:analysis; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006487:Hemostasis; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin