Alterations of lipid peroxide levels in the plasma and erythrocyte ghosts under treatment with simvastatin

Abstract

Simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, was administered to nine patients with hypercholesterolemia, and changes in the serum lipid levels as well as erythrocyte ghost lipid peroxide levels were examined at 0, 16, 32, and 48 weeks. The serum TC, apo-B, LDL-C, and EG-LPO levels were reduced significantly at 16 and 48 weeks, whereas no remarkable changes were observed in the serum TG, HDL-C, Lp(a), apo-A1, A2, C2, C3, E, or serum lipid peroxide levels. These findings suggest that simvastatin not only improves serum lipid levels but also inhibits lipid peroxidation of the erythrocyte membranes, and might be useful for preventing the progression of atherosclerotic vascular lesions.