This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2002 Feb 6;287
(5):598-605
Study title and authors:
Effects of diet and simvastatin on serum lipids, insulin, and antioxidants in hypercholesterolemic men: a randomized controlled trial.
Jula A, Marniemi J, Huupponen R, Virtanen A, Rastas M, Rönnemaa T.
Research and Development Centre of the Social Insurance Institution, Peltolantie 3, FIN-20720 Turku, Finland. antti.jula@kela.memonet.fi
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11829698
This study investigated the effects of statins on men with cholesterol levels of at least 232 mg/dL (6.0 mmol/L). The study included 120 men, aged 35 to 64 years, who were randomly allocated to a habitual diet, or dietary treatment group, and each of these groups was further randomised to receive simvastatin or placebo, each for 12 weeks.
The study found:
(a) The alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) levels of men taking simvastatin decreased by 16.2%.
(b) The beta-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A) levels of men taking simvastatin decreased by 19.5%.
(c) The ubiquinol-10 (ubiquinol-10 is the active form of coenzyme Q10) levels of men taking simvastatin decreased by 22%.
(d) The insulin levels of men taking simvastatin increased by 13.2%. (High insulin levels are associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, cancer and polycystic ovarian syndrome).
