Possible Interaction: Vitamin E and Simvastatin

“Particularly vitamin E seems to blunt the simvastatin induced HDL-C increase.”

“ Simvastatin decreased levels of total cholesterol by 20.8%, … 13.6%, apolipoprotein B by 22.4%, alpha-tocopherol by 16.2%, beta-carotene by 19.5%, and ubiquinol-10 by 22.0% (P<.001 … HDL cholesterol by 7.0% (P<.001) and serum insulin by 13.2% (P =.005).”

“61 Keech A, Collins R, Peto R, et al. Vitamin E supplementation inhibits LDL oxidation in patients at risk of coronary disease taking simvastatin or placebo.”

“The addition of antioxidant vitamins vitamin E , vitamin C, beta-carotene, and selenium) to the SN combination blunted the favorable effect of SN on clinical outcomes and angiographic measurements.”

“In both … groups Simvastatin therapy led to a … decrease in plasma alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.05) concentrations, however, the alpha-tocopherol/total cholesterol ratio increased by 9.1 (P < 0.01) … 12.1% (P < 0.01) in FH and non-FH patients, respectively, during the 14-week treatment period.”

“Both simvastatin , a cholesterol-lowering agent, and antioxidant vitamin E antagonized the effects of the above combination.”

“Concomitant administration of alpha-tocopherol and simvastatin to hypercholesterolemic rats markedly increased fertility index and sperm motility and viability associated with a significant reduction of sperm cell abnormalities.”