Early Improvements in insulin sensitivity and inflammatory markers are induced by pravastatin in nondiabetic subjects with hypercholesterolemia.
BACKGROUND
Statins may improve lipid profiles and inflammation-associated biomarkers, but the effect on insulin sensitivity is controversial. We investigated the effects of 2 doses of pravastatin (40 and 10 mg/day) on insulin sensitivity and serum inflammatory markers in nondiabetic hypercholesterolemic patients.


METHODS
This was a randomized, parallel, comparative design study. A total of 40 nondiabetic subjects with elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were randomized to either the 40 mg pravastatin/day group (n=21) or the 10 mg pravastatin/day group (n=19) for 8 weeks. The fasting serum lipid profile, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), glucose and insulin response of the two-hour glucose tolerance test (2 h-OGTT), and several inflammatory markers were determined.


RESULTS
Eight weeks of pravastatin treatment in both dose groups led to a significant reduction in serum LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol/ high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratios (all p< 0.01 in 40 mg group and all p<0.05 in 10 mg group), though the 40 mg group had greater effects. Although the fasting HOMA insulin resistance did not change significantly in either group, glucose and insulin areas under the curve of 2 h-OGTT were significantly decreased, suggesting improvement in insulin sensitivity post glucose challenge. Serum CD-40 ligand concentration was significantly reduced in the 40 mg pravastatin/day group and soluble P-selectin significantly reduced in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Pravastatin treatment, at 10 mg or 40 mg daily for 8 weeks, reduced serum lipids and some inflammatory markers in nondiabetic hypercholesterolemic subjects. Furthermore, insulin resistance was improved even in short-term treatment by pravastatin.
Lee
Wen-Jane
WJ
Department of Education and Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Lee
Wen-Lieng
WL
Tang
Yih-Jing
YJ
Liang
Kae-Woei
KW
Chien
Yu-Hon
YH
Tsou
Shung Sheng
SS
Sheu
Wayne Huey-Herng
WH
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D017035:Pravastatin