STATIN-D study: comparison of the influences of rosuvastatin and fluvastatin treatment on the levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D

Cardiovasc Ther. 2011 Apr;29(2):146-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-5922.2010.00141.x.

Abstract

Several studies have shown that low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease and an increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels protects against cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of rosuvastatin and fluvastatin on vitamin D metabolism. The study population consisted of 134 hyperlipidemic patients who had not previously been treated with lipid lowering medications. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to rosuvastatin 10 mg or fluvastatin 80 mg XL during the study. Lipid parameters, 25 hydroxyvitamin-D, and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) were obtained at baseline and after 8 weeks of rosuvastatin and fluvastatin treatment. Sixty-nine patients were administered rosuvastatin, and 65 patients fluvastatin. Total Cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased after 8 weeks of both rosuvastatin and fluvastatin treatments. Rosuvastatin was significantly more effective than fluvastatin on lowering total (P < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D with rosuvastatin treatment (P < 0.001), whereas no significant change in 25-hydroxyvitamin D was observed with fluvastatin treatment. Mean BALP fell from 18.5 to 9.6 u/I (P < 0.001) with rosuvastatin and from 17.0 to 12.8 with fluvastatin (P= 0.004). There was no significant difference in BALP levels between rosuvastatin and fluvastatin treatment (P= 0.368). The present study demonstrated that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels increased with rosuvastatin treatment; whereas fluvastatin treatment had no effect on 25-hydroxyvitamin D. This disparity could be related to the potency or the bioavailability of these two statins. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between statins and the vitamin D physiology.

Keywords: 25-Hydroxyvitamin D; Fluvastatin; Rosuvastatin; Statin.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alkaline Phosphatase / blood
  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Fluorobenzenes / pharmacology*
  • Fluvastatin
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology*
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*
  • Vitamin D / analogs & derivatives*
  • Vitamin D / blood

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated
  • Fluorobenzenes
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Indoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • Sulfonamides
  • Vitamin D
  • Fluvastatin
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium
  • 25-hydroxyvitamin D
  • Alkaline Phosphatase