title: Evidence of improved serum fatty acid profile of postmenopausal women receiving atorvastatin and raloxifene.
abstract: Raloxifene and atorvastatin have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with postmenopausal status and it has been postulated that their effects may be partly mediated by favourable changes in serum lipids and fatty acid composition. In the present study, individual administration of either raloxifene (Group A) or atorvastatin (Group B) or both (Group C) was compared for a period of 3 months and their effects on total lipids and fatty acids composition was evaluated. Postmenopausal women receiving both raloxifene and atorvastatin showed significant changes in the majority of serum lipids with important reductions in total cholesterol (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p < 0.001) and Apo B levels (p < 0.001). Phospholipids concentrations (p < 0.01) as well as Apo A-I were also significantly raised (p < 0.001). Furthermore, oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2) levels were significantly increased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively) followed by a marked reduction in palmitic acid (16:0) and arachidonic acid (20:4) concentrations (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001 respectively). The results of the study indicate that the serum lipid and fatty acid composition in postmenopausal women is influenced by the combined treatment of raloxifene and atorvastatin and a further attempt to evaluate the significance of these results is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piperi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zisaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skenderi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalofoutis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalofoutis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D011758:Pyrroles; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D000069059:Atorvastatin