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Published on: August 13, 2019
Effect of pravastatin on endothelial function and endothelial progenitor cells in healthy postmenopausal women
G Paradisi1, M Bracaglia, F Basile
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. giancarlo.paradisi@tin.it
Insights
Pravastatin therapy in healthy postmenopausal women improved lipid profiles and increased endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). However, it did not significantly impact insulin sensitivity or endothelial function in this short-term study.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a primary cause of death in postmenopausal women.
- Statins, like pravastatin, are known to reduce cardiovascular events.
- Understanding pravastatin's effects on cardiovascular risk factors in this demographic is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess pravastatin's efficacy in modifying cardiovascular risk markers in healthy postmenopausal women.
- Specifically, to evaluate reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
- To investigate changes in endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and insulin sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 20 postmenopausal women.
- Participants received pravastatin (40 mg/day) or placebo for eight weeks, followed by a crossover period.
- Clinical and laboratory assessments were conducted before and after each treatment phase.
Main Results:
- Pravastatin significantly reduced median low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol levels (p < 0.01).
- A significant increase in endothelial progenitor cells-colony forming units (EPC-CFU) was observed (30.6% increase, p < 0.05), with a decrease in senescent cells.
- No significant differences were found in insulin levels, insulin sensitivity, or endothelial function compared to placebo.
Conclusions:
- Short-term pravastatin treatment demonstrates beneficial effects on lipid profiles and EPCs in healthy postmenopausal women.
- However, it does not appear to improve other cardiovascular risk factors like insulin sensitivity or endothelial function.
- Further research may be needed to explore longer-term effects or different patient populations.
Purpose:
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in postmenopausal women. Among statins, pravastatin has been shown to significantly reduce fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in primary and secondary prevention trials. The aim of the present research was to investigate whether treatment with pravastatin can modify some indices of cardiovascular risk in healthy postmenopausal women such as significant reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Methods:
20 patients were randomized in double-blind fashion to treatment for eight weeks with either pravastatin 40 mg/day or placebo, and subsequently, after one-week wash-out, crossed-over to the alternative treatment (placebo or pravastatin) for the following eight weeks. We performed clinical and laboratory investigations, before and at the end of each treatment period, to evaluate patient response to the treatment with pravastatin.
Results:
After eight weeks pravastatin therapy reduced the median low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (p < 0.01 in both cases). In contrast, insulin level and insulin sensitivity did not show any difference with regard to values observed after placebo treatment. The absolute number of endothelial progenitor cells-colony forming unit (EPC-CFU) was significantly increased by pravastatin treatment (30.6% increase, p < 0.05) and the number of senescent cells was significantly decreased. However pravastatin did not increase tube-like formation by EPC and did not improve endothelial function.
Conclusions:
Despite beneficial effect on lipids and EPC, short term pravastatin does not seem to improve other cardiovascular risk factors, at least in healthy postmenopausal women.
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