title: Effects of Atorvastatin on vitamin D levels in patients with acute ischemic heart disease.
abstract: Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for osteoporosis and other chronic diseases, including type 1 diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and ischemic heart disease. Cholesterol and vitamin D share the 7-dehydrocholesterol metabolic pathway. This study evaluated the possible effect of atorvastatin on vitamin D levels in patients with acute ischemic heart disease. Eighty-three patients (52 men and 31 women) with an acute coronary syndrome (75 with acute myocardial infarction and 8 with unstable angina) were included. After diagnosis, patients received atorvastatin as secondary prevention. Serum vitamin D was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography at baseline and at 12 months. Atorvastatin treatment produced a statistically significant decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride levels and an increase in vitamin D levels (41+/-19 vs 47+/-19 nmol/L, p=0.003). Vitamin D deficiency was decreased by 75% to 57% at 12 months. In conclusion, atorvastatin increases vitamin D levels. This increase could explain some of the beneficial effects of atorvastatin at the cardiovascular level that are unrelated to cholesterol levels.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Río Hortega University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. castrv@terra.es
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez-Castrillón
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abad
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dueñas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002112:Calcifediol / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D014807:Vitamin D; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002112:Calcifediol