title: Effects of cholestyramine on vitamin E levels in patients treated with statins.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cholestyramine in combination with statins on vitamin E levels and their concentration related to LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with hyperlipidemia. In an open-label, randomized study of 25 patients with elevated LDL-C, 12 received cholestyramine (12 g/d) in addition to chronic statin therapy, which had been started at least 8 weeks prior to the study in all patients. At the start and end of the 12-week study period, vitamin E concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and cholesterol and triglycerides enzymatically in all patients. Vitamin E levels remained virtually unchanged within normal range before (11.90 +/- 0.71 mg/l) and after 12 weeks (11.69 +/- 0.82 mg/l) of concomitant therapy with cholestyramine. However, the ratio of vitamin E/LDL-C increased from 7.48 +/- 0.56 to 8.58 +/- 0.75 (x 10(-2)) (p < 0.09) in the cholestyramine group but not in the control group. LDL-C concentrations decreased from 162.00 +/- 5.98 to 144.33 +/- 12.48 mg/dl. The authors conclude that cholestyramine 12 g/d given for 12 weeks in addition to chronic statin therapy did not lower vitamin E levels in hyperlipemic patients. However, antioxidant status (vitamin E/LDL-C ratio) seems to be improved by a cholestyramine-associated LDL-C decrease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Evangelisches Stift St. Martin, D-56068 Koblenz, Germany.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kersting
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Selenka
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007211:Indoles; D009281:Naphthalenes; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D014810:Vitamin E; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin