Effects of Simvastatin and omega-3 fatty acids on plasma lipoproteins and lipid peroxidation in patients with combined hyperlipidaemia.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with combined hyperlipidemia are at increased risk for development of coronary heart disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and the safety of treatment with Simvastatin and omega-3 fatty acids in patients with this lipid disorder.


METHODS
A double-blind placebo controlled, randomized study evaluating the effects of Simvastatin separately and in combination with omega-3 fatty acids in 41 healthy patients with defined hyperlipidemia. After a 16 weeks dietary run-in period the patients were treated in periods of 5 weeks.


RESULTS
As expected Simvastatin (20 mg day[-1]) reduced serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoproteins B and E and increased HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A1. Addition of omega-3 fatty acids (4 g day[-1]) further decreased serum triacylglycerols (P = 0.007), total cholesterol (P = 0.052) and apolipoprotein E (P = 0.035). No significant changes attributable to supplementation of polyunsaturated fatty acids on the content of lipid peroxides in plasma and in the various lipoprotein fractions were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined treatment of Simvastatin and omega-3 fatty acids seems to be an efficient and safe alternative for patients with combined hyperlipidemia.
Nordøy
A
A
Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Tromsø, Norway.
Bønaa
K H
KH
Nilsen
H
H
Berge
R K
RK
Hansen
J B
JB
Ingebretsen
O C
OC
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D019821:Simvastatin