The effects of atorvastatin on endothelial function in diabetic patients and subjects at risk for type 2 diabetes.

We have investigated the effect of atorvastatin on the endothelial function of patients with diabetes and subjects at risk for type 2 diabetes in a 12-wk, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. The flow- mediated dilation (FMD; endothelium dependent) and nitroglycerin-induced dilation (endothelium independent) in the brachial artery and the vascular reactivity at the forearm skin were measured. FMD improved in the atorvastatin-treated, at-risk subjects [median (25-75 percentile), 7.