Effects of simvastatin on plasma antioxidant status and vitamins in hypercholesterolemic patients.
BACKGROUND
Statins are known to possess antioxidant properties in addition to their cholesterol-lowering effects. However, recent studies have suggested that statins reduce the levels of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E and coenzyme Q(10), possibly resulting in impaired left ventricular function. We investigated the effects of simvastatin on the blood lipids, LDL oxidation and plasma antioxidant status, and whether these effects were associated with changes in plasma antioxidant vitamin levels.


METHODS
Simvastatin (20-40 mg/day) was administered for 8 weeks in seventy-six hypercholesterolemic patients. We measured plasma lipids, oxidized LDL, total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) and plasma antioxidant vitamin levels at baseline and after 8 weeks of simvastatin administration.


RESULTS
Simvastatin significantly lowered serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol by 30.1% and 41.9%, respectively. A significant reduction in oxidized LDL levels (p<0.0001) and improvement in plasma antioxidant status as measured by TRAP (p<0.05) after the 8-week simvastatin treatment were observed. Regarding the effects of simvastatin on plasma antioxidant vitamin levels, there were significant increases in the levels of lipid-corrected retinol (p<0.001), alpha-tocopherol (p<0.001) and gamma-tocopherol (p<0.005) after the 8-week simvastatin treatment. Lipid-corrected levels of coenzyme Q10 and carotenoids remained unchanged after simvastatin treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that simvastatin reduced blood lipids and circulating oxidized LDL, and improved plasma antioxidant status without altering the antioxidant vitamin system. These data indicate that simvastatin not only decreases blood lipids and circulating oxidized LDL but also increases lipid corrected levels of antioxidant vitamins and may improve plasma antioxidant status synergizing with the biological effects of antioxidants.
Shin
Min-Jeong
MJ
Yonsei Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
Chung
Namsik
N
Lee
Jong Ho
JH
Jang
Yangsoo
Y
Park
Eunju
E
Jeon
Kyung-Im
KI
Chung
Ji Hyung
JH
Seo
Bo-Young
BY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000097:blood; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D008055:Lipids; D014815:Vitamins; D014451:Ubiquinone; D002338:Carotenoids; D019821:Simvastatin; D024505:Tocopherols