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Therapeutic Research
Abstract
The current first-line anti-cholesterolemic therapy is HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins). Statins have pleiotropic effects such as inhibiting inflammation, reducing oxidative activity, and improving endothelial function. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate(DHEA-S)is an adrenal androgen with various physiological effects on atherosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and immune regulation. Statins may also suppress the production of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and adrenal androgens) after decreasing cholesterol levels. Rosuvastatin is a powerful statin with higher potency for lowering LDL-cholesterol compared to other statins. In this study, we examined the effects of rosuvastatin on cholesterol levels and DHEA-S activity following administration for 6 months in 42 patients with hypercholesterolemia(17men and 25 women, mean age:59.5±13.0 yr, mean±SD). The patients’serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, and LDL-C) improved significantly and serum DHEA-S increased significantly after rosuvastatin treatment. We conclude that rosuvastatin is an effective drug for improving serum lipid profiles and increasing serum levels of DHEA-S.
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