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. 2024 Jan 19;20(6):390-396.
doi: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2023.56958.

Vitamin D was Superior to Omega-3 as a Simvastatin Adjuvant in Improving Blood Lipids and Atherogenic Index in Type-I Dyslipidemic Rats

Devy Lianto  1 , Yulia Yusrini Djabir  2 , Bethania Octaresya Mustamu  2 , Aryadi Arsyad  3
Affiliations

Vitamin D was Superior to Omega-3 as a Simvastatin Adjuvant in Improving Blood Lipids and Atherogenic Index in Type-I Dyslipidemic Rats

Devy Lianto et al. Turk J Pharm Sci. .

Abstract

Objectives: Adjuvant therapy is often used to optimize the antihyperlipidemic effect of simvastatin. Omega-3 and vitamin D supplementation are recommended as adjuvant therapies to low-intensity statins. This study aimed to compare the effects of vitamin D and omega-3 as adjuvant therapy to simvastatin to improve the lipid profiles and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in type-I dyslipidemic rats.

Materials and methods: Thirty-six male rats were randomized and divided into six groups: healthy control, dyslipidemic rats with no treatment, and dyslipidemic rats treated with either low-dose simvastatin only or omega-3 or vitamin D at low and high doses. Dyslipidemia was induced with high-fat diets for four weeks, followed by treatment for the next two weeks. Blood samples were withdrawn before and after simvastatin treatment. In addition, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were analyzed to assess liver function.

Results: Administration of a high-fat diet-induced type 1 dyslipidemia and increased ALT levels (p < 0.05). Treatment with low-dose simvastatin did not significantly improve triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) or non-HDLc levels. When combined with a high-dose vitamin D, simvastatin significantly reduced TG and increased HDLc levels (p < 0.05), thereby improving AIP levels. This improvement was not observed in rats treated with omega-3 or vitamin D at a lower dose.

Conclusion: We concluded that high-dose vitamin D as an adjuvant to simvastatin therapy was superior to omega-3 in improving TG, HDL, and AIP levels. High-dose vitamin D also improved ALT levels in type-I dyslipidemic rats. This result may be translated in clinics to reduce the risk of coronary syndrome in patients with type-I dyslipidemia.

Keywords: Vitamin D; adjuvant therapy; atherogenic index; omega-3; simvastatin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The effect of simvastatin, omega-3, and vitamin D on the bodyweights of rats of different therapeutic groups. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation
Figure 2
Figure 2
The effect of different treatments on serum lipid levels in rats. Total cholesterol (TC) (A), triglyceride (TG) (B), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (C), and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDLc) (D)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Results of atherogenic index of plasma calculation after administration of therapies for 2 weeks in each group
Figure 4
Figure 4
The effect of adjuvant treatments on the levels of serum liver enzymes in rats. Aspartate transaminase (A) and alanine transaminase (B)
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