Statins ; sunlight and vitamin d

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Do statins work by increasing vit.d

 

Increased levels of 25 hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D after

rosuvastatin treatment: a novel pleiotropic effect of statins?

 

Yavuz B, Ertugrul DT, Cil H, Ata N, Akin KO, Yalcin AA, Kucukazman M, Dal K,

Hokkaomeroglu MS, Yavuz BB, Tutal E.

 

Kecioren Teaching and Research Hospital, Department of Cardiology, Ankara,

Turkey. byavuzmd

 

Comment in:

 

* Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2009 Aug;23(4):261-2.

 

OBJECTIVES: Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with higher risk of

cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Large trials demonstrated that statins

significantly decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

7-dehydrocholesterol is the precursor of both cholesterol and vitamin D. The aim

of this study was to investigate the possible effect of rosuvastatin on vitamin

D metabolism. METHODS: The study was performed in a prospective cohort design.

The study group consisted of 91 hyperlipidemic patients who had not been treated

with lipid lowering medications. Lipid parameters, 25 hydroxyvitamin-D,

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and bone alkaline phosphatase were obtained at baseline

and after 8 weeks of rosuvastatin treatment. RESULTS: None of the subjects

withdrew from the study because of the adverse effects. The mean age was 59.9

+/- 12.5 years. The majority of the patients were male (55, 60%). Seventeen

patients were diabetic, and 43 patients had systemic hypertension. There was a

significant increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D, from mean 14.0 (range 3.7- 67) to

mean 36.3 (range 3.8 -117) ng/ml (p < 0.001), and also an increase of

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D from mean 22.9 +/- 11.2 to 26.6 +/- 9.3 pg/dl (p =

0.023). Bone alkaline phosphatase decreased after 8 weeks of rosuvastatin

treatment, mean 17.7 (range 2.6-214) to mean 9.5 (range 2.3-19.1) u/l (p <

0.001) rosuvastatin treatment. CONCLUSION: This study has shown an effect of

rosuvastatin on vitamin D metabolism, with an increase in both 25-hydroxyvitamin

D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. This may be an important pleiotropic effect

whereby rosuvastatin reduces mortality in patients with coronary artery disease.

Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between statins and

vitamin D metabolism.

 

PMID: 19543962 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]