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. 2014:2014:468397.
doi: 10.1155/2014/468397. Epub 2014 Aug 13.

Effect of simvastatin and atorvastatin on serum vitamin d and bone mineral density in hypercholesterolemic patients: a cross-sectional study

Abrar Thabit  1 , Abdullah Alhifany  2 , Razan Alsheikh  1 , Sameh Namnqani  3 , Ameen Al-Mohammadi  1 , Soha Elmorsy  3 , Mohammed Qari  4 , Mohammed Ardawi  4
Affiliations

Effect of simvastatin and atorvastatin on serum vitamin d and bone mineral density in hypercholesterolemic patients: a cross-sectional study

Abrar Thabit et al. J Osteoporos. 2014.

Abstract

Background. Besides lipid-lowering effect of statins, they have been shown to have nonlipid lowering effects, such as improving bone health. An improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) has been indicated in some studies after the use of statins, in addition to an increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) level. The aim of this study is to explore the association between statins and bone health taking into consideration 25OHD level and BMD. Methods. This is a randomized, cross-sectional comparative study. Subjects were divided into two groups, hypercholesterolemic participants taking simvastatin or atorvastatin as the study group and a matched control group not taking statins. All participants were assessed for serum 25OHD and BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck. Results. A total of 114 participants were included in the study, 57 participants in each group. Results of serum 25OHD showed no significant difference between study and control groups (P = 0.47), while BMD results of lumbar spine and femoral neck showed significant difference (P = 0.05 and 0.03, resp.). Conclusion. Simvastatin and atorvastatin, at any dose for duration of more than one year, have no additive effect on 25OHD level but have a positive effect on the BMD.

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Conflict of interest statement

Professor Ardawi is the chairman of the Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Dr. Qari is the deputy chairman at the Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All other authors have no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D [14]. 25-(OH)D: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; 1,25-(OH)2D: 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Study process. CEOR: Center of Excellence for Osteoporosis Research; 25OHD: 25-hydroxyvitamin D; LDL-C: Low density lipoprotein cholesterol; HDL-C: High density lipoprotein cholesterol; BMD: Bone mineral density; DXA: Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Flowchart of participants in the study.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Distribution of study group participants on different doses and durations of use of statins.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Lipid profile data of the study group. (a) Median and interquartile ranges of total cholesterol; (b) median and interquartile ranges of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C); (c) median and interquartile ranges of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Study group versus control group in relation to serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck (mean ± SD). BMD: bone mineral density.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Effect of supplementation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and BMD at lumbar spine and femoral neck (mean ± SD). BMD: bone mineral density; control-S: control group on supplementation; control-N: control group not on supplementation; study-S: study group on supplementation; study-N: study group not on supplementation.
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