EFFECTS OF SIMVASTATIN AND OMEGA-3-FATTY-ACIDS ON PLASMA-LIPOPROTEINSAND LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN PATIENTS WITH COMBINED HYPERLIPIDEMIA

Objectives. Patients with combined hyperlipidemia are at increased ris k for development of coronary heart disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency and the safety of treatment with Simva statin and omega-3 fatty acids in patients with this lipid disorder. D esign. A double-blind placebo controlled, randomized study evaluating the effects of Simvastatin separately and in combination with omega-3 fatty acids in 41 healthy patients with defined hyperlipidemia. After a 16 weeks dietary run-in period the patients were treated in periods of 5 weeks. Results. As expected Simvastatin (20 mg day(-1)) reduced s erum total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, apolipoproteins B and E and increased HDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A(1). Addition of omega-3 fatty acids (4 g day(-1)) further decreased serum triacylglycerols (P = 0.007), total cholesterol (P = 0.052) and apolipoprotein E (P = 0.0 35). No significant changes attributable to supplementation of polyuns aturated fatty acids on the content of lipid peroxides in plasma and i n the various lipoprotein fractions were observed. Conclusions. The co mbined treatment of Simvastatin and omega-3 fatty acids seems to be an efficient and safe alternative for patients with combined hyperlipide mia.