Statins exacerbate glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia in a high sucrose fed rodent model

Sci Rep. 2019 Jun 19;9(1):8825. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-45369-8.

Abstract

Statins are first-line therapy drugs for cholesterol lowering. While they are highly effective at lowering cholesterol, they have propensity to induce hyperglycemia in patients. Only limited studies have been reported which studied the impact of statins on (a) whether they can worsen glucose tolerance in a high sucrose fed animal model and (b) if so, what could be the molecular mechanism. We designed studies using high sucrose fed animals to explore the above questions. The high sucrose fed animals were treated with atorvastatin and simvastatin, the two most prescribed statins. We examined the effects of statins on hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance, fatty acid accumulation and insulin signaling. We found that chronic treatment with atorvastatin made the animals hyperglycemic and glucose intolerant in comparison with diet alone. Treatment with both statins lead to fatty acid accumulation and inhibition of insulin signaling in the muscle tissue at multiple points in the pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atorvastatin / adverse effects
  • Diet
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Glucose Intolerance / chemically induced*
  • Glucose Intolerance / genetics
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Hyperglycemia / chemically induced*
  • Hyperglycemia / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Simvastatin / adverse effects
  • Sucrose

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Insulin
  • Sucrose
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin