Effects of Evolocumab on Vitamin E and Steroid Hormone Levels

Abstract

Rationale : Vitamin E transport and steroidogenesis are closely associated with low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) metabolism, and evolocumab can lower LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) to low levels. Objective: To determine the effects of evolocumab on vitamin E and steroid hormone levels. Methods and Results: After titration of background lipid-lowering therapy per cardiovascular risk, 901 patients with an LDL-C ≥2.0 mmol/L were randomized to 52 weeks of monthly, subcutaneous evolocumab, or placebo. Vitamin E, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and gonadal hormones were analyzed at baseline and week 52. In a substudy (n=100), vitamin E levels were also measured in serum, LDL, high-density lipoprotein, and red blood cell membranes at baseline and week 52. Absolute vitamin E decreased in evolocumab-treated patients from baseline to week 52 by 16% but increased by 19% when normalized for cholesterol. In the substudy, vitamin E level changes from baseline to week 52 mirrored the changes in the lipid fraction, and red blood cell membrane vitamin E levels did not change. Cortisol in evolocumab-treated patients increased slightly from baseline to week 52, but adrenocorticotropic hormone and the cortisol:adrenocorticotropic hormone ratio did not change. No patient had a cortisol:adrenocorticotropic hormone ratio <3.0 (nmol/pmol). Among evolocumab-treated patients, gonadal hormones did not change from baseline to week 52. Vitamin E and steroid changes were consistent across subgroups by minimum postbaseline LDL-C <0.4 and <0.6 mmol/L. Conclusions: As expected, vitamin E levels changed similarly to lipids among patients treated for 52 weeks with evolocumab. No adverse effects were observed in steroid or gonadal hormones, even at very low LDL-C levels. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01516879.

Clinical utility of evolocumab in the management of hyperlipidemia: patient selection and follow-up

“…Vitamin E and steroid-hormone levels were measured in 100 patients who participated in a substudy of a long-term evolocumab study 20. Relative to changes in cholesterol, there were no significant changes in serum vitamin E levels, LDL vitamin E levels, or red-cell membrane vitamin E levels.…”

Retargeting the management of hypercholesterolemia – focus on evolocumab

“…Vitamin E levels instead decreased by a mean of 16% because of the involvement of lipoproteins in the transport of liposoluble vitamins; anyhow, when LDL-C concentrations were normalized, vitamin E raised to previous levels. 45 Moreover, from its discovery, we know that the human LDL-C receptor is saturated for plasma level >25 mg/dL; 46 this information further supports the safety of extreme LDL-C reduction in most patients.…”

PCSK9 Inhibitors in Lipid Management of Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and High Cardiovascular Risk: A Review

“…Alirocumab and evolocumab, either alone or in combination with statins and/or other lipid‐lowering therapies, have been shown in their respective phase 3 clinical trial programs (ODYSSEY and PROFICIO [Program to Reduce LDL‐C and Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Inhibition of PCSK9 In Different Populations]) to significantly reduce LDL‐C levels by up to 60% from baseline (depending on dosing regimen; Table) in patients with hypercholesterolemia, including those with familial hypercholesterolemia, moderate to very high cardiovascular risk, and statin intolerance 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62. The inclusion/exclusion criteria and other details of each phase 3 ODYSSEY and PROFICIO trial are shown in Table S2.…”