Effect of atorvastatin on energy expenditure and skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism at rest and during exercise

Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2008 Feb;83(2):243-50. doi: 10.1038/sj.clpt.6100264. Epub 2007 Jun 6.

Abstract

Statins are associated with adverse effects in skeletal muscle. This study tested the hypothesis that atorvastatin would increase the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) at rest and during exercise. Twenty-eight healthy subjects (mean age 52 years) were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of the effects of atorvastatin (40 mg/day) on whole body energetics over 8 weeks. Ventilatory gas exchange measurements, at rest and during bicycle ergometry, were used to assess muscle oxidative metabolism. Thirteen subjects from each treatment arm completed the study. Eight weeks of atorvastatin lowered plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration but had no effect on resting or submaximal energy expenditure, RER, or calculated fatty acid oxidation rates. Atorvastatin did not affect maximal exercise oxygen consumption or the anaerobic threshold. Eight weeks of atorvastatin therapy was not associated with alterations in substrate oxidation, or muscle oxidative function at rest, or during exercise in healthy adults.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anaerobic Threshold / drug effects
  • Atorvastatin
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Exercise*
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Heptanoic Acids / adverse effects
  • Heptanoic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / enzymology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation / drug effects*
  • Oxygen Consumption / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Gas Exchange / drug effects
  • Pulmonary Ventilation / drug effects
  • Pyrroles / adverse effects
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Reference Values
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Fatty Acids
  • Heptanoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Pyrroles
  • Atorvastatin
  • Creatine Kinase