Effects of ezetimibe and simvastatin on apolipoprotein B metabolism in males with mixed hyperlipidemia

J Lipid Res. 2009 Jul;50(7):1463-71. doi: 10.1194/jlr.P800061-JLR200. Epub 2009 Mar 22.

Abstract

Sixteen hyperlipidemic men were enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over study to evaluate the effect of ezetimibe 10 mg and simvastatin 40 mg, coadministered and alone, on the in vivo kinetics of apolipoprotein (apo) B-48 and B-100 in humans. Subjects underwent a primed-constant infusion of a stable isotope in the fed state. The coadministration of simvastatin and ezetimibe significantly reduced plasma concentrations of cholesterol (-43.0%), LDL-C (-53.6%), and triglycerides (-44.0%). Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) apoB-48 pool size (PS) was significantly decreased (-48.9%) following combination therapy mainly through a significant reduction in TRL apoB-48 production rate (PR) (-38.0%). The fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of VLDL and LDL apoB-100 were significantly increased with all treatment modalities compared with placebo, leading to a significant reduction in the PS of these fractions. We also observed a positive correlation between changes in TRL apoB-48 PS and changes in TRL apoB-48 PR (r = 0.85; P < 0.0001) with combination therapy. Our results indicate that treatment with simvastatin plus ezetimibe is effective in reducing plasma TRL apoB-48 levels and that this effect is most likely mediated by a reduction in the intestinal secretion of TRL apoB-48. Our study also indicated that the reduction in LDL-C concentration following combination therapy is mainly driven by an increase in FCR of apoB-100 containing lipoproteins.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apolipoproteins B / metabolism*
  • Azetidines / therapeutic use*
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Ezetimibe
  • Humans
  • Hyperlipidemias / drug therapy*
  • Hyperlipidemias / metabolism
  • Hyperlipidemias / physiopathology
  • Lipoproteins / blood
  • Male
  • Placebos / therapeutic use
  • Simvastatin / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Apolipoproteins B
  • Azetidines
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Lipoproteins
  • Placebos
  • Triglycerides
  • Simvastatin
  • Ezetimibe