title: Impact of short-term low-dose atorvastatin on low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein subfraction phenotype.
abstract: Statins can significantly reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and modestly raise or not alter high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). However, their impact on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions has been less examined. The aim of the present study was to investigate the short-term impact of low-dose atorvastatin on HDL and LDL subfractions in humans. In this randomized study, data from 52 subjects were analysed. Thirty-seven patients with atherosclerosis were randomized to treatment with atorvastatin 10 mg/day (n = 17) or 20 mg/day (n = 20) for 8 weeks, with 15 healthy subjects without therapy used as a control group. The lipid profile and lipoprotein subfractions were determined using the Lipoprint system at baseline and at 8 weeks. The data suggest that atorvastatin treatment (10 and 20 mg/day) for 8 weeks significantly decreases LDL-C levels and reduces the cholesterol concentration of all LDL subfractions, which is accompanied by an increase of the mean LDL particle size. Although 10 mg/day atorvastatin treatment for 8 weeks had no impact on the HDL subfraction, 20 mg/day atorvastatin for 8 weeks significantly increased the cholesterol concentration of large HDL particles and decreased the cholesterol concentration of small HDL particles without changing serum HDL-C levels in patients with atherosclerosis. Therefore, the results suggest that 20 mg/day atorvastatin treatment for 8 weeks may result in a favourable modification of the HDL subfraction phenotype in addition to its effects on the cholesterol concentration of all LDL subfractions and mean LDL particle size.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dyslipidemia, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Xia
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yuan-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin
keywords: atherosclerosis; atorvastatin; high-density lipoprotein subfraction; low-density lipoprotein particle size; low-density lipoprotein subfraction