Do statins cause myopathy by lowering vitamin E levels?
Statins and other lipid lowering drugs have been repeatedly described to decrease blood levels of minor fat soluble components such as vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol). Clinical consequences of this secondary state of deficiency have not been described so far, but recent biochemical and molecular evidence on homeostatic and molecular responses to vitamin E deficiency in skeletal muscle cells may suggest the hypothesis presented in this paper of a role as risk factor in the development of statin-associated myopathy. This hypothesis that needs to be further investigated, could suggest the need for precautionary measures during lipid lowering therapy, which include timely diagnosis and active prevention of vitamin E deficiency.
Galli
Francesco
F
Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Applied Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06126 Perugia, Italy. f.galli@unipg.it
Iuliano
Luigi
L
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000378:metabolism*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D024505:Tocopherols