title: Simvastatin Treatment Does Not Affect Serum Vitamin D Concentrations in Patients with Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Cross-over Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are antihyperlipidemic drugs with an established efficacy in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques and preventing atherogenesis and reducing cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of simvastatin on serum Vitamin D status in dyslipidemic patients as Vitamin D status has an impact on monocyte/macrophage function and may also contribute to cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Selected individuals (n = 102) were treated with simvastatin (40 mg/day), or matching placebo in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Each treatment period (with simvastatin or placebo) lasted for 30 days and was separated by a 2-week washout phase. Serum Vitamin D concentration was assessed pre- and post-treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seven completed the trial, noncompliance with the study protocol and drug intolerance or relocation were the causes for drop-out. No significant carry-over effect was observed for the assessed parameters. There was a reduction in the serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.001), total cholesterol (P < 0.001), and triglycerides (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, simvastatin therapy did not significantly affect serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Vitamin D level (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term treatment with simvastatin (40 mg/day) does not have a significant affect on serum levels of Vitamin D.
authors.affiliation: Key State Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazidi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rokni
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sahebkar
authors.affiliation: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biochemistry of Nutrition Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghayour-Mobarhan
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Education, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Brighton, BN1 9PH, UK.
authors.forename: Gordon A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ferns
keywords: Randomized controlled trial; Vitamin D; simvastatin