The hypolipidemic and pleiotropic effects of rosuvastatin are not enhanced by its association with zinc and selenium supplementation in coronary artery disease patients: a double blind randomized controlled study

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 18;10(3):e0119830. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119830. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Objective: Statins treatment may modify the levels of zinc and selenium, minerals that can improve vascular function and reduce oxidative damage and inflammation in atherosclerotic patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rosuvastatin, alone or associated with zinc and selenium supplementation, on lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes and mineral status in coronary artery disease patients.

Material and methods: A double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed in which patients (n = 76) were treated with 10 mg rosuvastatin over 4 months associated or not with zinc (30 mg/d) and selenium (150 μg/d) supplementation. The following parameters were analyzed before and after the intervention: anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), electronegative low density lipoprotein (LDL(-)) concentrations, activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), zinc and selenium concentrations in blood plasma and erythocytes. Significance was determined using an α of 5% (two-tailed).

Results: We found that rosuvastatin therapy was efficient in reducing total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and hs-CRP independently of mineral supplementation. Neither treatment was associated with significant changes in LDL(-). Similarly, the antioxidant enzymes GPx and SOD activity were unchanged by treatments. Neither treatment was associated with significant differences in concentrations of zinc or selenium in blood plasma and erythocytes of studied groups.

Conclusion: Rosuvastatin treatment did not affect zinc and selenium levels in coronary artery disease patients. The zinc and selenium supplementation at doses used in this study did not change lipid profile or SOD and GPx activity in patients receiving rosuvastatin. Further studies should be focused on testing alternative doses and supplements in different populations to contribute for a consensus on the ideal choice of antioxidants to be used as possible complementary therapies in atherosclerotic patients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01547377.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy*
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / blood
  • Humans
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Lipids / blood
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / blood
  • Male
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium / pharmacology*
  • Selenium / blood
  • Selenium / pharmacology*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Superoxide Dismutase / blood
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Zinc / blood
  • Zinc / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Lipids
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • Rosuvastatin Calcium
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Glutathione Peroxidase
  • Superoxide Dismutase
  • Selenium
  • Zinc

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01547377

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Rio Grande do Norte (FAPERN, www.fapern.rn.gov.br, Brazil (grant PROJ-981-199697778). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.