Comparative Effect of Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin on 25-hydroxy-Vitamin D Levels in Non-diabetic Patients with Dyslipidaemia: A Prospective Randomized Open-label Pilot Study

Aims: Low 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D] levels have been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Conflicting data exist regarding the effect of statins on 25(OH)D levels. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on 25(OH)D levels in non-diabetic patients with dyslipidaemia. Methods: This was a prospective randomized open-label study. Patients were assigned to atorvastatin 20 mg/day (n=28, age: 56.1 +/- 2.2 years, 22 females) or rosuvastatin 10 mg/day (n=24, age: 57.4 +/- 1.9 years, 20 females). Total cholesterol (TC), low-(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), fasting plasma glucose, insulin, glycosylated haemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were measured, and homeostatic model of assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated at baseline and 12 weeks post-treatment. Results: There were no within or between group significant differences in 25(OH)D levels (atorvastatin: 21.7 +/- 1.9 ng/ml at baseline and 23.5 +/- 2.3 ng/ml at week 12; rosuvastatin: 25.3 +/- 1.8 and 27.0 +/- 2.4 ng/ml, respectively; p=0.172 and p=0.306 for between groups, respectively). Both statins significantly reduced TC, TG and LDL-C levels, with a greater LDL-C reduction being observed by rosuvastatin. Conclusion: Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin did not significantly affect 25(OH)D levels in this study.