title: The effect of short-term simvastatin treatment on plasma adipokine levels in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia: A preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apart from reducing plasma lipids, statins produce numerous non-lipid-related pleiotropic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate whether short-term simvastatin treatment affects plasma adipokine levels in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 42 adult patients with untreated isolated hypercholesterolemia, complying throughout the study with lifestyle intervention, 23 of whom were treated with simvastatin (40 mg daily), as well as 18 healthy subjects with normal lipid profile. Plasma lipids, apolipoproteins, glucose metabolism markers, as well as plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), free fatty acids (FFA), leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined at baseline and after 30 days of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control age-, sex-, and weight-matched healthy subjects, isolated hypercholesterolemic patients exhibited higher plasma levels of leptin, visfatin, TNF-α, FFA and CRP, as well as lower plasma levels of adiponectin. Apart from decreasing plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B-100 levels, simvastatin reduced plasma levels of FFA, leptin and TNF-α, as well as increased plasma levels of adiponectin, which was accompanied by a reduction in plasma CRP. There were no differences in simvastatin action on plasma adipokines and CRP between insulin-resistant and insulin-sensitive subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the presence of isolated hypercholesterolemia is associated with abnormal hormonal function of the adipose tissue. These changes are partially reversed by short-term simvastatin treatment, and this action may contribute to the clinical effectiveness of statins in the therapy of atherosclerosis-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. Electronic address: r.krysiak@interia.pl.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krysiak
authors.affiliation: Invasive Cardiology, Electrotherapy and Angiology Centre, Oświęcim, Poland.
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zmuda
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okopień
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood*; D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D052242:Adiponectin; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol; D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: Adiponectin; Leptin; Simvastatin; Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); Visfatin