Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Increased Levels of 25 Hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D After Rosuvastatin Treatment: A Novel Pleiotropic Effect of Statins?

  • Published:
Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Large trials demonstrated that statins significantly decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. 7-dehydrocholesterol is the precursor of both cholesterol and vitamin D. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of rosuvastatin on vitamin D metabolism.

Methods

The study was performed in a prospective cohort design. The study group consisted of 91 hyperlipidemic patients who had not been treated with lipid lowering medications. Lipid parameters, 25 hydroxyvitamin-D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, and bone alkaline phosphatase were obtained at baseline and after 8 weeks of rosuvastatin treatment.

Results

None of the subjects withdrew from the study because of the adverse effects. The mean age was 59.9 ± 12.5 years. The majority of the patients were male (55, 60%). Seventeen patients were diabetic, and 43 patients had systemic hypertension. There was a significant increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D, from mean 14.0 (range 3.7– 67) to mean 36.3 (range 3.8 –117) ng/ml (p < 0.001), and also an increase of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D from mean 22.9 ± 11.2 to 26.6 ± 9.3 pg/dl (p = 0.023). Bone alkaline phosphatase decreased after 8 weeks of rosuvastatin treatment, mean 17.7 (range 2.6–214) to mean 9.5 (range 2.3–19.1) u/l (p < 0.001) rosuvastatin treatment.

Conclusion

This study has shown an effect of rosuvastatin on vitamin D metabolism, with an increase in both 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. This may be an important pleiotropic effect whereby rosuvastatin reduces mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between statins and vitamin D metabolism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1174–80.2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Grimes DS, Hindle E, Dyer T. Sunlight, cholesterol and coronary heart disease. Q J Med. 1996;89:579–89.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mortimer EA, Monson RR, MacMahon B. Reduction in mortality from coronary heart disease in men residing at high altitude. N EngI J Med. 1977;296:581–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Burr ML, Fehily AM, Gilbert JF, et al. Effects of changes in fat, fish, and fibre intakes on death and myocardial reinfarction: diet and reinfarction trial (DART). Lancet. 1989;3342:757–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kromhout D, Bosschieter EB, de Lezenne Coulander C. The inverse relation between fish consumption and 20-year mortality from coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 1985;312:1205–1209.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Shepherd J, Cobbe SM, Ford I, for the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study Group, et al. Prevention of coronary heart disease with pravastatin in men with hypercholesterolemia. N EngI J Med. 1995;333:1301–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study Group. Randomized trial of cholesterol lowering in 4444 patients with coronary heart disease: the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4 S). Lancet. 1994;344:1383–9.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Guryev O, Carvalho RA, Usanov S, Gilep A, Estabrook RW. A pathway for the metabolism of vitamin D3: unique hydroxylated metabolites formed during catalysis with cytochrome P450scc (CYP11A1). Proc NatI Acad Sci USA. 2003;100:14754–14759.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults. Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). J Am Med Assoc. 2001;285:2486–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wilczek H, Sobra J, Justova V, Ceska R, Juzova Z, Prochazkova R, et al. latropathogenic effect of mevacor on vitamin D metabolism. Cas Lek Cesk. 1989;128:1254–1256.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Wilzcek H, Sobra J, Ceska R, Justota V, Juzova Z, Prochazkova R, et al. Monitoring plasma levels of vitamin D metabolites in simvastatin therapy in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia. Cas Lek Cesk. 1994;133:727–729.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Perez-Castrillon JL, Vega G, Abad L, Sanz A, Chaves J, Hernandez G, et al. Effects of Atorvastatin on vitamin D levels in patients with acute ischemic heart disease. Am J Cardiol. 2007;99:903–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Bonetti PO, Lerman LO, Napoli C, Lerman A. Statin effects beyond lipid lowering — are they clinically relevant? Eur Heart J. 2003;24:225–48.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Grimes DS. Are statins analogues of vitamin D? Lancet. 2006;368:83–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Melamed ML, Michos ED, Post W, Astor B. 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and the risk of mortality in the general population. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168:1629–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hatzigeorgiou C, Jackson JL. Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors and osteoporosis: a meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int. 2005;16:990–998.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Safaei H, Janghorbani M, Aminorroaya A, Amini M. Lovastatin effects on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Acta Diabetol. 2007;44:76–82.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Uysal AR, Delibasi T, Erdogan MF, et al. Effect of simvastatin use on bone mineral density in women with type 2 diabetes. Endocr Pract. 2007;13:114–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Svejda P, Soska V, Soucek M. The impact of statin therapy on bone density changes in postmenopausal women. Vnitr Lek. 2007;53:1064–70.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rosenson RS, Tangney CC, Langman CB, Parker TS, Levine DM. Gordon BR. Short-term reduction in bone markers with high-dose simvastatin. Osteoporos Int. 2005;16:1272–1276.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rejnmark L, Buus NH, Vestergaard P, Andreasen F, Larsen ML, Mosekilde L. Statins decrease bone turnover in postmenopausal women: A cross-sectional study. Eur J Clin Invest. 2002;32:581–589.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Kajinami K, Takekoshi N, Matsui S, Kanemitsu S, Okubo S, Kanayama S, et al. Effect of pretreatment vitamin D levels on in vivo effects of atorvastatin on bone metabolism in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. Am J Cardiol. 2003;92:1113–1116.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bunyamin Yavuz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yavuz, B., Ertugrul, D.T., Cil, H. et al. Increased Levels of 25 Hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D After Rosuvastatin Treatment: A Novel Pleiotropic Effect of Statins?. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 23, 295–299 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-009-6181-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-009-6181-8

Key words

Navigation