1.
Influence of Statins on Circulating Inflammatory Cytokines in Patients With Abnormal Glucose Homeostasis: A Meta-analysis of Data From Randomized Controlled Trials.
Milajerdi, A, Sadeghi, A, Mousavi, SM, Larijani, B, Esmaillzadeh, A
Clinical therapeutics. 2020;(2):e13-e31
Abstract
PURPOSE Chronic inflammation increases the risks for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Recently, the antiinflammatory effects of statins, as cholesterol-lowering medications, have been considered. This study systematically reviewed and summarized earlier findings from randomized clinical trials about the effects of statins on serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 in patients with abnormal glucose homeostasis. METHODS Relevant articles published through October 2019 were searched using suitable key words on the PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases. RCTs were included if they compared the effects of statins on serum concentrations of CRP and IL-6 in adults with abnormal glucose homeostasis. The effect sizes were represented as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% CI s using a random-effects model. Subgroup analysis was performed to find possible sources of heterogeneity. FINDINGS Overall, 17 publications with 21 effect sizes and which enrolled 3766 subjects (1895 participants in intervention and 1871 in control groups) were included. Combining 13 effect sizes from 10 studies, a significant reduction in serum CRP concentration following the administration of atorvastatin was found (WMD, -0.35; 95% CI, -0.54 to -0.17; I2 = 90.6%). Based on 5 effect sizes from 4 studies, we found a statistically significant reduction in serum IL-6 concentration after atorvastatin therapy (WMD, -0.44; 95% CI, -0.65 to -0.22; I2 = 93.9%). Pooling 6 effect sizes from 5 studies revealed a significantly reduced serum concentration of CRP after simvastatin therapy (WMD, -0.66; 95% CI, -0.79 to -0.54; I2 = 97.6%). IMPLICATIONS The administration of atorvastatin or simvastatin in patients with abnormal glucose hemostasis was associated with a reduced serum CRP concentration. Atorvastatin therapy might also help to decrease serum IL-6 concentration in these patients.
2.
Statins influence biomarkers of low grade inflammation in apparently healthy people or patients with chronic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
Milajerdi, A, Larijani, B, Esmaillzadeh, A
Cytokine. 2019;:154752
Abstract
BACKGROUND No earlier study summarized findings on the effect of statins on inflammatory biomarkers in apparently healthy individuals or those with chronic diseases. This study was done to systematically review earlier publications on the effect of statins on serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in apparently healthy individuals or those with chronic diseases. METHODS We searched relevant publications published up to December 2018 in PubMed, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases. For this purpose, suitable MESH and non-MESH keywords were used. Randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials that examined the effect of statins on serum concentrations of CRP and IL-6 in apparently healthy adults or those with chronic diseases were included. RESULTS Overall, 18 studies with 23 effect sizes, that enrolled 32,156 individuals (38% female and 62% male; mean age: 44.79 years) were included. When we combined 21 effect sizes from 16 studies, we observed a significant reduction in circulating levels of CRP following administration of statins [Weighted Mean Difference (WMD): -0.80; 95% CI: -1.05, -0.56]. Combining 12 effect sizes from 11 studies, a significant reduction was found in serum CRP concentrations following administration of Atorvastatin (WMD: -0.57; 95% CI: -0.78, -0.35). Pooling 5 effect sizes from 2 studies, we found a significant reduction in serum concentrations of CRP following administration of Simvastatin (WMD: -0.29; 95% CI: -0.49, -0.10; I2 = 88.5%). Combining 6 effect sizes from 5 studies, we found a significant reduction in serum IL-6 concentrations after Atorvastatin therapy (WMD: -2.13; 95% CI: -3.96, -0.30; I2 = 98.6%). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we found that statins administration in apparently healthy people or those with chronic diseases help reducing serum CRP concentrations. In addition, Atorvastatin administration resulted in reduced serum IL-6 concentrations in these people.