Simvastatin treatment increases nitrite levels in obese women: Modulation by T−786C polymorphism of eNOS

• Published in: Nitric oxide 2013-09, Vol.33, p.83-87
• Main Authors: Andrade, V.L., Sertório, J.T.C., Eleuterio, N.M., Tanus-Santos, J.E., Fernandes, K.S., Sandrim, V.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: eNOS; Nitrite; Obesity; Polymorphism; Statin
• ISSN: 1089-8603; 1089-8611
• DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2013.07.005

•Obese women without comorbidities were treated by 45days with simvastatin.•Plasma MDA-TBARS levels diminished significantly after statin treatment.•Plasma nitrite levels increased significantly after simvastatin treatment.•Nitrite and MDA-TBARS were negatively correlated before and after treatment.•C-allele carrier women presented a higher raise in nitrite than T-allele carriers. Evidence indicates an impairment of nitric oxide (NO) in obesity. Statins present pleiotropic effects independently of cholesterol-lowering, including increasing of eNOS expression and antioxidant effects. We evaluated the effects of simvastatin treatment at 45days on circulating nitrite (NO marker) and TBARS-MDA levels in obese women without comorbidities (hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia). Moreover, we verified whether obese women carrying the C variant of T−786C polymorphism located in eNOS may have increased levels of nitrite after treatment compared to TT genotype. After simvastatin treatment, while the plasma nitrite levels increased 42% (P=0.0008), the TBARS-MDA levels reduced 58% (P=0.0069). We observed increased levels of nitrite in both groups of genotypes (TT vs. TC+CC); however, rise in C-allele carriers was 60% comparing with 44% in TT. Our results demonstrated a restoration of nitrite levels in obese women treated with simvastatin, which is modulated by T−786C polymorphism.