Glycemic effects of simvastatin: Where do we stand?

Abstract

In clinical practice, simvastatin is usually used in the treatment of dyslipidemia patients and those at risk of or with established cardiovascular disease. However, previous studies have shown that simvastatin has the potential to affect glycemic parameters as it reportedly reduced insulin secretion and sensitivity. The exact mechanism by which simvastatin affects glycemia is still unknown, but previous studies have postulated the involvement of the glucose-insulin secretion mechanism. This review focuses on the effects of simvastatin, either alone or in combination with other lipid lowering agents, antidiabetics and antihypertensives, on glucose homeostasis. Some studies have reported that simvastatin might impair the levels of glucose metabolism markers in the blood while others have reported no effect or improvement in glycemia.

Prescribing pattern of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes: insights from Ethiopia

“…Another interesting finding of the present study, compared to subjects who did not receive statin, poor glycemic control had worsened in subjects who received statins (32.8% versus 28.6%). This could be explained due to the fact that simvastatin was the most commonly prescribed type of statin (37.2%) in which simvastatin has the potential effect in reducing insulin secretion and sensitivity [29].…”

Synthesis and In Vivo Hypolipidemic Effect of Some N-(Benzoylphenyl)-Carboxamide Derivatives in Triton WR-1339-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

“…PPAR-alpha induces apoA-I and apoA-II and lowers hepatic apoC-III production, which reduces the amounts of circulating triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (Hamadneh et al, 2017;Rubins et al, 1999;Shattat, 2014;Staels et al, 1998). Based on the correlation between hyperlipidemia and heart disease, development of new lipid-lowering agents is considered extremely important to overcome the adverse effects of current medications (Razali et al, 2018). In this respect, attention has been given to research focusing on the synthesis of N-(benzoylphenyl)-carboxamide derivatives with substantial antihyperlipidemic activity.…”

Synergistic anticancer effect of combination treatment of vitamin D and pitavastatin on the HCC1937 breast cancer cells

“…It can also be applied to the treatment of other diseases, particularly cancer, in which progression depends on increased migration, survival, and ultimately proliferation (Göbel et al 2019). Statins competitively inhibit the rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway, 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) leading to low levels of isoprenoids geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) and farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) (Guerra et al 2021;Razali et al 2018). The current study tested the possible synergistic cytotoxic effect between statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin, and pitavastatin) and Vit D. The most potent combination of Vit D and pitavastatin was further investigated.…”