The effects of rosuvastatin alone or in combination with fenofibrate or omega 3 fatty acids on inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with mixed dyslipidemia.

Objective: Mixed dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and inflammation are related to a high risk for cardiovascular events. The aim of this open-label randomized study was to compare the effects of high-dose rosuvastatin, low-dose rosuvastatin plus fenofibrate and low-dose rosuvastatin plus omega 3 fatty acids on inflammation and oxidative stress indices in patients with mixed dyslipidemia.

Methods: Ninety patients with mixed dyslipidemia participated in the study. Patients were randomly allocated to receive rosuvastatin 40 mg (n = 30, group R), rosuvastatin 10 mg plus fenofibrate 200 mg (n = 30, group RF) or rosuvastatin 10 mg plus omega 3 fatty acids 2 g daily (n = 30, group RΩ). Plasma and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) activities, high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), plasma isoprostane and paraoxonase (PON1) activities were measured at baseline and after 3 months of treatment.

Results: Serum concentrations of non-HDL cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly reduced in all study groups. However, these changes were more pronounced in the rosuvastatin monotherapy group. In all treatment groups a significant reduction in total plasma LpPLA2 activity was observed (by 41, 38 and 30% for groups R, RF and RΩ, respectively). This decrease was greater in the R and RF groups compared with the RΩ combination (p < 0.05). HDL-LpPLA2 activity was increased more in the RF group (+43%) compared with the R and RΩ groups (+ 18% and + 35%, respectively; p < 0.05 for both comparisons). In all treatment groups there was a nonsignificant reduction in plasma 8-iso-PGF2α levels. A 53% reduction of hsCRP levels was observed in the R group, while in the RF and RΩ groups the reduction was 28 and 23%, respectively (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 for the comparisons of group R with groups RF and RΩ, respectively). No significant changes were observed in PON activities in all treatment groups.

Conclusion: The greater non-HDL-C- and LDL-C-lowering efficiency of rosuvastatin monotherapy along with its more potent effect on LpPLA2 activity and hsCRP levels indicate that this regimen is a better treatment option for patients with mixed dyslipidemia.