Effect of atorvastatin on LDL oxidation and antioxidants in normocholesterolemic type 2 diabetic patients

Oxidative stress in diabetes increases lipid peroxidation, which stimulates the development of atherosclerosis.

We investigated in a 3-month placebo-controlled study with 19 normocholesterolemic type 2 diabetic patients whether treatment with 10-mg atorvastatin influenced antioxidants and reduced LDL oxidizability, assessed by in vitro production of conjugated dienes after copper-induced LDL oxidation.

The lag phase, as a measure of the resistance of LDL to oxidation, did not change (62.8+/-8.2 respectively 59.6+/-9.7 min, p=n.s.), while conjugated dienes decreased (512+/-74 respectively 487+/-50 nmol, p=0.012). Plasma alpha-tocopherol and ubiquinol levels decreased, while their ratios to LDL cholesterol remained stable.

Atorvastatin favourably influences some parameters of LDL oxidation. Whether this effect is clinically relevant remains to be determined.