Effects of Simvastatin on the Metabolism of Fatty Acids in Combined Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: Dosage and Gender Differences between the Effects

Abstract

Background: Statins are currently used for secondary prevention of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), as the lipid-lowering therapy with them is proven safe and effective. Objective: The purpose of this research is to investigate the dose-dependent effect of statins used for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, as well as mechanisms of quantitative and qualitative changes in lipoproteins, fatty acids and cholesterol in the blood and tissues of people of both sexes. Methods: In a clinical trial (n=125, of which 89 patients belong to group 1 and 36 to group 2) and an experiment on laboratory animals (n = 100), simvastatin reduced the total level of fatty acids in blood plasma, when given in the amount that was within the therapeutic dose range. Results: This effect was achieved through a drug-induced improvement in the capacity of hepatic cells to absorb Low-density (LDL) and Very-low-density (VLDL) lipoproteins. Conclusions: Considering the formation of saturated fatty acids, statin performed better in males. With Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids involved, changes in lipoproteins, cholesterol and fatty acids (liver and myocardium) were similar to those caused by small doses of a statin drug. Effects of the combination of bisoprolol and acetylsalicylic acid were completely different from those caused by the use of statin.