Is Vitamin D level elevated in patients on statin treatment?

Abstract

Context: Statins are effective agents on both primary and secondary prevention in patients who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease, and the number of patients taking statins has significantly raised recently. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between Vitamin D levels and statin usage, statin type, dose, and duration. Settings and Design: We enrolled 210 control and 174 patients who were taking statins, and whose Vitamin D levels were checked in the past 3 months. 25-hydroxy Vitamin D levels were analyzed by immunoassay. Subgroup analysis was done firstly according to statin types and other lipid-lowering agents, namely fenofibrate. Subjects and Methods: Statin dosage's effect on Vitamin D levels were analyzed in patients taking low-dose (10–20 mg/day) and high-dose (40–80 mg/day) atorvastatin. Patients were divided into three groups according to statin usage duration (short term: >1 month, less than a year, medium-term: 1–5 years, long term: >5 years). Statistical Analysis Used: Kolmogorov–Smirnov, Kruskal–Wallis, Bonferroni Dunn's multiple comparisons, Spearman rank tests were used. Results: About 71.26% of the patient group was using atorvastatin, 13.21% rosuvastatin, 4.59% pitavastatin, and 10.91% were on fenofibrate treatment. Vitamin D levels were statistically different among statin subtypes (P < 0.001); the highest level was observed in patients taking atorvastatin (23.03 ± 9.94). Vitamin D levels were statistically significantly higher in short-term and medium-term statin usage than control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that even low-dose statin has a positive effect on Vitamin D. Thereby, it encourages patients to continue with statin therapy more willingly.

Keywords

• cardiovascular disease
• statin
• vitamin d