Cerivastatin modulates plasma paraoxonase/arylesterase activity and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the rat.

Statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase inhibitors), apart from lowering plasma cholesterol, modulate other processes involved in atherogenesis. Paraoxonase (PON), contained in plasma high density lipoproteins, protects plasma lipoproteins from oxidative damage and is a potentially atheroprotective enzyme. We investigated the effect of cerivastatin on oxidant-antioxidant balance and plasma PON activity.