Hypolipidemic effects of simvastatin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase in thirteen patients (8 women and 5 men, aged between 55-74 years) with hypercholesterolemia were investigated. Hypercholesterolemic patients were treated with simvastatin in a dose of 10 mg daily for 4 weeks. No drug was used these patients in the weeks 5-8. At the end of these period, Simvastatin was given again in a dose of 20 mg daily in the weeks 9-12. Serum total, LDL and HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in patients with hypercholesterolemia were determined before and under treatment with 10 or 20 mg of simvastatin daily. Blood samples were drawn at every 4 weeks for serum lipids. Serum lipids were also determined for thirteen healthy subjects. Significant decreases were noted under treatment with 10 mg of simvastatin/day in serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p<0.05) in the weeks 1-4, however an unaltered levels in serum triglycerides and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were observed. Total and LDL-cholesterol increased at the end of untreated period (p<0.05), but HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides did not change significantly. After 12 weeks serum total and LDL-cholesterol were reduced with 20 mg of simvastatin/day (p<0.05), but triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol remained unchanged under simvastatin treatment. We conclude that simvastatin is effective in lowering total and LDL-cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolemia during short-term administration
