title: Zhibitai and low-dose atorvastatin reduce blood lipids and inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atorvastatin decreases blood lipids but is associated with side effects. Zhibitai is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat blood lipid disorders. The objective of this study is to evaluate the lipid-lowering effect, antiinflammatory effect, and adverse events of zhibitai combined to atorvastatin in patients with coronary heart diseases (CHDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with CHD (n = 150) were randomized to: zhibitai 480 mg + atorvastatin 10 mg (ZA10 group), atorvastatin 20 mg (A20 group), and atorvastatin 40 mg (A40 group). Lipid profile, cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Self-reported side effects, liver function, kidney function, and creatine kinase levels were monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 weeks, triglycerides, total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB100) levels were decreased in the ZA10 group (-64%, -37%, -46%, and -54%, respectively, compared with baseline), and these changes were similar to those of the A40 group (P > 0.05). CT-1 and high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were significantly decreased in the ZA10 group after 4 and 8 weeks (4 weeks: -73% and 96%; 8 weeks: -89% and -98%; all P < 0.01), without differences among the 3 groups (P > 0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, adverse events (abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, and hunger) were found in 4, 5, and 7 patients in the ZA10, A20, and A40 groups, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ZA10 significantly reduced triglycerides, TC, LDL-C, ApoB, CT-1, and hs-CRP levels in patients with CHD, similar to the effects of A40 and A20, but ZA10 lead to fewer adverse events.
authors.affiliation: Internal Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Affiliated Peace Changzhi Medical College Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yuhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Qiong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shuiping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Danyan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008055:Lipids; C553042:zhibitai; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000069059:Atorvastatin; C092073:cardiotrophin 1