Making Statins Even Better

	Tweet

Statin drugs are helping many people lower their cholesterol, but a new study in the February Journal of Lipid Research reveals that Statins actually increase the production of another protein that limits their benefit.

Proprotein convertase type 9 (PCSK9) has recently gained attention as a key regulator of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol). PCSK9 degrades LDL receptors that remove LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) from the blood; mutations that result in extra PCSK9 activity produce familial hypercholesterolemia, while mutations causing less PCSK9 activity lower LDL-C and cardiovascular risk. 

Studies in mice have indicated that Statins may increase PCSK9 expression, so Robert Konrad and colleagues studied the effect of atorvastatin (Lipitor) or placebo on PCSK9 levels in humans. After 16 weeks of treatment, 40 mg/day atorvastatin increased circulating PCSK9 levels by 34% over placebo, while decreasing LDL-C levels by 42%. In comparison, a 10 mg/day dosage did not increase PCSK9 levels at all, yet still reduced LDL-C by 30%.

The researchers note these results, although preliminary, suggest that adding a PCSK9 inhibitor to statin therapy could be an approach to further decrease LDL-C levels in patients unable to reach desired results on statin therapy alone, or to effectively lower the dosage in patients who experience unwanted statin side effects.

Source: American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)

RELATED STORIES:
New advance announced in reducing ‘bad’ cholesterol   Cholesterol drugs safe, even after a decade of use   Green tea shows small effect on cholesterol   Cleveland Clinic researcher reports that evacetrapib can increase HDL (good) cholesterol 128 percent   Targeting cholesterol to fight deadly brain cancers   Astra’s Crestor drug fails to beat Pfizer’s Lipitor   Diet alone helps lower bad cholesterol: study   ‘Good’ cholesterol function as important as its levels   Super-sticky ‘ultra-bad’ cholesterol revealed in people at high risk of heart disease   ‘Good cholesterol’ structure identified, could help explain protective effects   Eggs are now naturally lower in cholesterol   Questions over statin prescribing

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]