Statins enhance circulating vitamin E

Int J Cardiol. 2008 Jan 11;123(2):172-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2006.11.115. Epub 2007 Feb 15.

Abstract

Statins have been shown to inhibit oxidative stress, however it is still unclear if they influence antioxidant status. We performed a retrospective analysis of oxidative stress, as assessed by serum levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and vitamin E, a known antioxidant, in patients with metabolic syndrome (n=112) treated (n=30) or not (n=82) with statins. Statin-treated patients showed higher levels of vitamin E (p=0.02) and lower 8-OHdG (p<0.01) than statin-free patients. An inverse correlation between oxidative stress and vitamin E was observed (r=-0.670, p<0.001). These preliminary data suggest that statins enhance the antioxidant status likely by inhibiting oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Atorvastatin
  • Female
  • Heptanoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Heptanoic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / blood
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Simvastatin / pharmacology*
  • Simvastatin / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin E / blood*

Substances

  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pyrroles
  • Vitamin E
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin