Abstract 322: Effect of Atorvastatin on Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Triglyceride Kinetics in Obese Men

Background Hypertriglyceridemiais a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Atorvastatineffectively decreases plasma and VLDL triglyceride concentrations in humans, but the mechanism of action is unknown. This study examined the effect of atorvastatinon VLDL triglyceride (VLDL-TG) metabolism in obese men. Hypothesis: Atorvastatindecreases VLDL-TG concentrations by increasing VLDL-TG catabolism. Methods: 25 obese men (mean ± SEM: age 52 ± 3 years, BMI 34.5 ± 1.4 kg/m 2 , plasma triglyceride 1.9 ± 0.1 mmol/L, HDL cholesterol 1.00 ± 0.05 mmol/L) were studied in a two-arm parallel group study design. Eligible subjects entered a 3 week run-in dietary stabilizing period at the end of which they were randomized to a 6 week treatment period of either atorvastatin40 mg/day (ATV) or placebo. VLDL-TG kinetics were examined using stable isotope methods and compartmental modelling. Results: ATV decreased plasma TG, VLDL apoB and VLDL apoC-III concentrations compared with placebo (p Conclusions: In obese men, ATV decreased plasma and VLDL-TG concentrations chiefly by increasing VLDL-TG catabolism, with no appreciable effect on VLDL-TG synthesis. Our data suggest that reduction in apoC-III concentration with ATV may explain, in part, the increase in VLDL-TG catabolism.