Effect of pravastatin treatment on circulating adiponectin: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Pravastatin has been suggested to increase circulating adiponectin in humans. However, results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are inconsistent. We aimed to systematically evaluate the influence of pravastatin on circulating adiponectin in humans by performing a meta-analysis of RCTs.

Studies were identified via systematic searching of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane's Library databases. A random effect model was used to pool the results. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were applied to explore the source of heterogeneity.

Eight RCTs with nine comparisons of 595 participants were included. Pravastatin treatment was associated with a significant increased level of circulating adiponectin as compared with controls (weighted mean difference [WMD] =0.63 µg/mL; 95% CI, 0.17-1.09 µg/mL; P=0.007) with moderate heterogeneity (I2=28%). These results were confirmed by meta-analysis of double-blinded placebo-controlled RCTs (WMD =0.82 µg/mL; P=0.01). Meta-regression analyses indicated that proportions of males in each study were positively correlated with the effect of pravastatin on adiponectin (coefficient: 0.015, P=0.03). Subgroup analyses confirmed that pravastatin significantly increased adiponectin in studies of males (WMD =1.41 µg/mL; P=0.008), but not in those of females (WMD =-0.04 µg/mL; P=0.94).

Pravastatin treatment is associated with increased circulating adiponectin. Gender difference may exist regarding the effect of pravastatin treatment on adiponectin.