Possible Interaction: Atorvastatin and Green Tea Extract

“Additionally, administration of 300 mg or 600 mg of the green tea extract increased the apparent oral clearance (CL/ F ) of atorvastatin by 31% and 29%, respectively.”

“Coadministration of green tea extract with atorvastatin may necessitate the monitoring of the plasma concentration of atorvastatin in clinical practice.”

“Conclusion Green tea extract decreases the absorption but not the elimination of atorvastatin , possibly by inhibiting OATP, albeit not in a dose-dependent manner.”

“Results Compared to atorvastatin alone, the … or 600 mg of the green tea extract … atorvastatin decreased the peak plasma concentration ( C max ) of atorvastatin by 25% and 24%, respectively ( P < 0.05), … the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC 0−∞ ) of atorvastatin by 24% and 22%, respectively ( P < 0.05).”

“Thus, it is presumed that the systemic exposure to atorvastatin might be enhanced by co-ingestion with green tea or GTE , as is the case for another lipophilic statin, simvastatin [9].”

“We read with interest a recent article by Abdelkawy et al. in … Journal of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics demonstrating that the plasma concentrations of atorvastatin were decreased … administered with green tea dry extract (GTE) in 300-mg or 600-mg capsules … with control (placebo capsule) in healthy volunteers [1].”