Possible Interaction: Arachidonic Acid and Simvastatin

“Treatment with simvastatin was associated with an increase in the arachidonic acid content of the erythrocyte membrane from 12.2 to 15.3 mole% (P < 0.05).”

“ Simvastatin decreased proportions from total fatty acids of palmitic acid by 2.0% (P<0.01), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6) by …:3n-6) by 11.1% (P<0.001), dihomo-&ggr;-linolenic acid (C20:3n-6) by 4.2% (P<0.01), arachidonic acid (C20:4n-…<0.001).”

“In THP-1 cells, simvastatin decreases, in a concentration-dependent manner, cholesterol synthesis and increases linoleic acid (LA) conversion to its long-chain derivatives, in particular to arachidonic acid , activating Δ6 and Δ5 fatty acid (FA) desaturases.”

“ Simvastatin enhances the conversion of linoleic acid to their long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid derivatives, e.g. arachidonic acid , in addition to typically inhibiting the de novo cholesterol synthesis, in cultured cells.”

“In view of the multiple biologic properties of AA, the AA released as a result of the action of the statins may play a role in some of the pharmacological effects attributed to these drugs.”