MONDAY, Aug. 26, 2002 (HealthDayNews) -- Statins are well known for their ability to lower cholesterol levels, but they also seem to be effective at quickly reducing another risk for a heart attack: inflammation.
A new study finds that the drug simvastatin significantly lowered LDL -- the "bad" cholesterol -- as well as levels of highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in as little as two weeks. Elevated levels of hsCRP indicate inflammation and a higher-than-normal risk for heart attack.
The research is scheduled to appear in the Sept. 17 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
"This study was really meant to answer one question: How quickly does hsCRP change after statins are introduced?" says the study's lead author, Dr. Robert H. Eckel, a professor of medicine, physiology, and biophysics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. "And the answer is by day 14."
"So, maybe quickly giving a statin could reduce hsCRP and improve the outcome for heart disease patients," says Eckel, adding that more study needs to be done to address that possibility.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly 1 million lives a year, according to the American Heart Association. More than 61 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease.
Forty people between the ages of 25 and 75 volunteered for Eckel's study. All had high cholesterol, but no known heart disease. The researchers randomly assigned each participant to one of two groups. One group took the statin drug for 14 days and then a placebo for 14 days, while the other group started with the placebo and finished with the statin medication.
By the seventh day of treatment with the statin, both groups experienced a 56 milligrams-per-deciliter (mg/dl) drop in LDL cholesterol. At the end of two weeks on the statin, LDL cholesterol dropped another 8 mg/dl in both groups.
HsCRP fell to 1.6 milligrams per liter (mg/L) after two weeks on the statin medication from a high of 2.55 mg/L.
Eckel points out that though only one type of statin was tested, other statins would likely have similar effects.
"This study shows a very early effect on hsCRP from statins," says Dr. Carl Lavie, a cardiologist with the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. "It may add to the urgency of starting statin therapy in high-risk patients."
Until further study is completed, Eckel says experts are not recommending any changes in clinical care.
There are other ways to reduce levels of C-reactive protein, including losing weight and quitting smoking, according to Eckel and Lavie. Eckel says some diabetes medications and triglyceride-lowering drugs can also help reduce hsCRP. Lavie recommends cardiac rehabilitation and exercise for heart disease patients, along with a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids (including many types of seafood) to lower hsCRP levels.
What To Do
This is the latest in a series of studies highlighting the benefits of statins. They've also been found to keep the arteries clear and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
For more information on statin medications, go to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
Are you at risk for a heart attack? Find out by visiting the American Heart Association.
