Effects of statins on triglyceride metabolism.
Hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or "statins," have been extremely efficacious in decreasing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia and in treating patients with dysbetalipoproteinemia, a relatively rare form of hyperlipidemia. Clinical trials have indicated that statins can significantly lower very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) triglyceride levels, although the central mechanism of action of statins-i.e., increasing the number of LDL receptors-would appear to suggest that they would have no significant effect on VLDL levels. Through a review of published data from animal and human studies, this article addresses the important clinical question of how drugs that inhibit the rate-limiting enzyme for cholesterol can affect triglyceride metabolism.
Ginsberg
H N
HN
Division of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
D000818:Animals; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006952:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides