Possible Interaction: Homocysteine and Simvastatin

“Asymmetric dimethylarginine and total homocystein levels showed a statistically significant decrease with 80 mg simvastatin (p < 0.001; p = 0.038).”

“Hcy increased mRNA levels of iNOS in the macrophage line; the combination of Hcy and simvastatin resulted in a trend towards greater induction.”

“Our goal in this study was to determine whether Hcy could interfere with the ability of simvastatin to increase ApoA-I synthesis or to modify statin-dependent regulation of inflammatory factors.”

“ Simvastatin treatment significantly reduced total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein–cholesterol, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and Hcy , whereas nitrite levels were increased.”

“Among total subjects, simvastatin treatment resulted in a significant reduction in serum Hcy levels after 8 weeks (-0.37 ± 2.21 μmol/L, P = 0.003), and this effect was dependent on the initial levels of serum Hcy.”

“The present study addresses how homocysteine (Hcy) induces endothelial apoptosis and how simvastatin antagonizes these pro-apoptotic effects of Hcy.”

“Dieter Luftjohann et al. reported a significant decrease in Hcy plasma levels after high doses of simvastatin (80 mg daily) for 24 weeks, suggesting a possible contribution to the reduction in cardiovascular events seen with high doses of simvastatin.”

“Real-time PCR showed that Hcy increased the mRNA expressions of Nox1 and Nox2, whereas simvastatin inhibited the stimulation of Nox1 and Nox2 expressions by Hcy.”

“These findings indicate that simvastatin prevents the detrimental effects of Hcy on the apoptosis of osteocytes by regulating the expressions of Nox1 and Nox2, suggesting that statins may be beneficial for preventing Hcy-induced osteocyte apoptosis and the resulting bone fragility.”