Effects of cholestyramine on vitamin E levels in patients treated with statins

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of cholestyramine in c ombination with statins on vitamin E levels and their concentration related to LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with hyperlipidemia. In an open-lab el, randomized study of 25 patients with elevated LDL-C, 12 received choles tyramine (12 g/d) in addition to chronic statin therapy, which had been sta rted at least 8 weeks prior to the study in all patients. At the start and end of the 12-week study period, vitamin E concentrations were measured by highperformance liquid chromatography and cholesterol and triglycerides enz ymatically in all patients. Vitamin E levels remained virtually unchanged w ithin normal range before (11.90 +/- 0.71 mg/l) and after 32 weeks (11.69 /- 0.82 mg/l) of concomitant therapy with cholestymmine. However, the ratio of vitamin E/LDL-C increased from 7.48 +/- 0.56 to 8.58 +/- 0.75 (x 10(-2) ) (p < 0.09) in the cholestymmine group but not in the control group. LDL-C concentrations decreased from 162.00 +/- 5.98 to 144.33 +/- 12.48 mg/dl, T he authors conclude that cholestymmine 12 g/d given for 12 weeks in additio n to chronic statin therapy did not lower vitamin E levels in hyperlipemic patients. However, antioxidant status (vitamin E/LDL-C ratio) seems to be i mproved by a cholestyramine-associated LDL-C decrease. (C)2000 the American College of Clinical Pharmacology.