Statins but not fibrates improve the atherogenic to anti-atherogenic lipoprotein particle ratio: a randomized crossover study
2008

Effects of Statins and Fibrates on Lipoprotein Ratios

Sample size: 35 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Chan Sammy Y, Mancini GB John, Ignaszewski Andrew, Frohlich Jiri

Primary Institution: University of British Columbia

Hypothesis

How do statins and fibrates affect lipoprotein subclasses in patients with hyperlipidemia?

Conclusion

Simvastatin significantly reduced the atherogenic to anti-atherogenic lipoprotein ratio, while fenofibrate did not.

Supporting Evidence

  • Simvastatin reduced LDL particle concentration by 32%.
  • Fenofibrate increased large LDL particle size by 17%.
  • Simvastatin had no effect on HDL particle size.
  • LDL-P/HDL-P ratio was significantly reduced by simvastatin.

Takeaway

This study looked at how two types of cholesterol-lowering medicines, statins and fibrates, change the types of cholesterol particles in the blood. Statins worked better at improving the balance of good and bad cholesterol particles.

Methodology

A crossover study where 35 subjects were treated with simvastatin and fenofibrate sequentially, with assessments of lipoprotein subclasses using NMR spectroscopy.

Potential Biases

None reported.

Limitations

The study had a relatively small sample size and potential carryover effects from the crossover design.

Participant Demographics

35 subjects, 21 males, mean age 60 ± 12 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p < 0.001 for simvastatin vs fenofibrate

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1472-6904-8-10

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