Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
Genetic and Non-Genetic Determinants of the Pharmacological Activity of Statins
Marta Karazniewicz-Lada1, Anna Glowka, Jakub Mikolajewski
1Department of Physical Pharmacy and Pharmacokinetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 6 Swiecickiego Street, 60-781 Poznan, Poland.
Abstract:
Statins are cholesterol-lowering agents which belong to the group of the most commonly prescribed drugs. The use of statins has become the standard treatment in patients with an increased risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart diseases. However, many clinical studies have shown that 13 - 75% of patients fail to achieve LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol target levels. The clinical implications of insufficient response include cardiovascular complications caused by atherosclerosis leading to acute myocardial infarction, stroke and death. The mechanism underlying statin resistance has been associated with genetic polymorphisms and nongenetic factors (e.g. concomitant diseases, drug-drug interactions, interactions with food and dietary supplements). The article provides a comprehensive update of the current knowledge regarding the role of genetic polymorphism and non-genetic determinants of cholesterol-lowering effect of statins. Dietary aspects of statin efficacy were also presented. The Pubmed search was performed to identify relevant papers from the last ten years which were included in the review. Consideration of the genetic and non-genetic determinants of pharmacological action of statins as well as mechanisms of drug-drug interactions may be useful in clinical practice for improving safety and efficacy of statin treatment.
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetic Phenotypes: Alterations in Pharmacokinetics, Drug Targets and Biologic Milieu
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview
Principles of Pharmacogenetics: Types of Genetic Variants
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics: Overview
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Transporters: P-Glycoprotein and Solute Carrier Transporters
