Statins and menopausal health

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 141-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred O Mueck ◽  
Harald Seeger

Cardiovascular disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Cholesterol-lowering statins can reduce health risks both in men and women. While this benefit has thus far been attributed to the lipid-lowering effects of these drugs, the importance of their direct actions on vascular tissue is gaining more recognition. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that statins might also be effective in preventing osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease. Equally interesting are experimental results showing that statins may inhibit growth of certain malignancies such as the breast. When statins are combined with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), even greater beneficial effects on the lipid profile can be obtained. To our knowledge we have investigated for the first time direct vascular effects by combining statins with HRT. We were able to identify significant beneficial effects on endothelial function and vascular smooth muscle proliferation. In the context of current discussions on the benefits and risks of HRT in treating patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, it appears particularly important that interventional studies should be conducted to evaluate the therapeutic relevance of statin/HRT combinations. At present, this is the most important conclusion drawn from the data collected thus far on the combination of these two drug types. There is some evidence suggesting drug-specific effects, particularly adverse reactions and statin interactions, which should be considered when using this combination therapy.

Author(s):  
Roger Lyrio dos Santos ◽  
Fabrício Bragança da Silva ◽  
Rogério Faustino Ribeiro ◽  
Ivanita Stefanon

AbstractGender-associated differences in the development of cardiovascular diseases have been described in humans and animals. These differences could explain the low incidence of cardiovascular disease in women in the reproductive period, such as stroke, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. The cardiovascular protection observed in females has been attributed to the beneficial effects of estrogen on endothelial function. Besides estrogen, sex hormones are able to modulate blood pressure by acting on important systems as cardiovascular, renal, and neural. They can have complementary or antagonistic actions. For example, testosterone can raise blood pressure by stimulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, whereas estrogen alone or combined with progesterone has been associated with decreased blood pressure. The effects of testosterone in the development of cardiovascular disease are contradictory. Although some researchers suggest a positive effect, others indicate negative actions of testosterone. Estrogens physiologically stimulate the release of endothelium-derived vasodilator factors and inhibit the renin-angiotensin system. Although the cardioprotective effects of estrogen are widely appreciated, little is known about the effects of progesterone, which is commonly used in hormone replacement therapy. Progesterone has both vasodilatory and vasoconstrictive effects in the vasculature, depending on the location of the vessel and the level of exposure. Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which sex hormones modulate blood pressure have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, the characterization of those could lead to a better understanding of hypertension in women and men and perhaps to improved forms of therapy.


2004 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlene A. HAMILTON ◽  
William H. MILLER ◽  
Sammy AL-BENNA ◽  
M. Julia BROSNAN ◽  
Russell D. DRUMMOND ◽  
...  

A multitude of studies in experimental animals, together with clinical data, provide evidence that increased production of ROS (reactive oxygen species) are involved in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. As ROS appear to have a critical role in atherosclerosis, there has been considerable interest in identifying the enzyme systems involved and in developing strategies to reduce oxidative stress. Prospective clinical trials with vitamins and hormone replacement therapy have not fulfilled earlier promises, although there is still interest in other dietary supplements. Superoxide dismutase mimetics, thiols, xanthine oxidase and NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors are currently receiving much interest, while animal studies using gene therapy show promise, but are still at an early stage. Of the drugs in common clinical use, there is evidence that ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and AT1(angiotensin II type 1) receptor blockers have beneficial effects on oxidative stress above their antihypertensive properties, whereas statins, in addition to improving lipid profiles, may also lower oxidative stress.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (46) ◽  
pp. 7027-7039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia Vogiatzi ◽  
Evangelos Oikonomou ◽  
Gerasimos Siasos ◽  
Sotiris Tsalamandris ◽  
Alexandros Briasoulis ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic inflammation and immune system activation underlie a variety of seemingly unrelated cardiac conditions including not only atherosclerosis and the subsequent coronary artery disease but also peripheral artery disease, hypertension with target organ damage and heart failure. The beneficial effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or statins are mainly attributed to their ability to inhibit hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis. Beyond their lipid lowering activity, ample evidence exists in support of their potent anti-inflammatory properties which initiate from the inhibition of GTPase isoprenylation, activating a cataract of secondary pathways and extend to the inhibition and blocking of immune cell activation and interaction. </P><P> Objective: To summarize the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of statins in clinical and experimental settings in cardiovascular disease. </P><P> Methods: A systematic search of PubMed and the Cochrane Database was conducted in order to identify the majority of trials, studies, current guidelines and novel articles related to the subject. </P><P> Results: In vitro, statins have immuno-modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, and they can exert antiatherosclerotic effects independently of their hypolipidemic actions. In addition, positive results have emerged from mechanistic and experimental studies on the active role of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in HF. By extrapolating those data in clinical setting, we further understand how HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors can beneficially affect not only systolic but also diastolic HF. </P><P> Conclusion: In this review article, we present the basic pathophysiologic data supporting the anti-inflammatory actions of statins in clinical and experimental settings and we link these mechanisms with confirmatory clinical data on the potent non lipid lowering effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.


Author(s):  
John R Burnett ◽  
Samuel D Vasikaran

Atherosclerotic heart disease and osteoporosis are both diseases of old age. Evidence is accumulating for a link between vascular and bone disease. Calcification is a common feature of atherosclerotic plaques, and osteoporosis is associated with both atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. However, the relationship of vascular calcification to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis remains incompletely understood. Hormone replacement therapy has beneficial effects in the prevention of both atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates inhibit bone resorption and are used in the treatment of osteoporosis, whereas the statins inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and are used for the treatment of atherosclerosis. We have reviewed recent advances in the knowledge of the actions of bisphosphonates and statins at the cellular, molecular and end-organ levels in order to examine the relationship between cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis and to explore the link between lipids and bones. These studies suggest that the mechanism of actions of these two classes of drugs at the cellular level may not be mutually exclusive. There are some early clinical data to complement these findings, suggesting that statins increase bone density and bisphosphonates may have a beneficial effect in vivo on plasma lipid levels and on the atherosclerotic process. Properly designed prospective studies that examine the effect of statins on bone density and fractures, as well as the effects of bisphosphonates on lipid profiles, atherosclerotic progression and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are needed to define clearly the clinical effects and potential new roles for these agents.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 660
Author(s):  
María Aguilar-Ballester ◽  
Gema Hurtado-Genovés ◽  
Alida Taberner-Cortés ◽  
Andrea Herrero-Cervera ◽  
Sergio Martínez-Hervás ◽  
...  

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and is the clinical manifestation of the atherosclerosis. Elevated LDL-cholesterol levels are the first line of therapy but the increasing prevalence in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has positioned the cardiometabolic risk as the most relevant parameter for treatment. Therefore, the control of this risk, characterized by dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, and insulin resistance, has become a major goal in many experimental and clinical studies in the context of CVD. In the present review, we summarized experimental studies and clinical trials of recent anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering therapies targeted to reduce CVD. Specifically, incretin-based therapies, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors, and proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 inactivating therapies are described. Moreover, the novel molecular mechanisms explaining the CVD protection of the drugs reviewed here indicate major effects on vascular cells, inflammatory cells, and cardiomyocytes, beyond their expected anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering control. The revealed key mechanism is a prevention of acute cardiovascular events by restraining atherosclerosis at early stages, with decreased leukocyte adhesion, recruitment, and foam cell formation, and increased plaque stability and diminished necrotic core in advanced plaques. These emergent cardiometabolic therapies have a promising future to reduce CVD burden.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1461.1-1461
Author(s):  
T. Rogatkina ◽  
O. Korolik ◽  
V. Polyakov ◽  
G. Kravtsov ◽  
Y. Polyakova

Background:Attention is drawn to the frequent combination of osteoarthritis (OA) with cardiovascular disease. Non-specific inflammation plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of OA and atherosclerosis. Limiting the physical activity of patients with OA is an additional important factor aggravating the course of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Chronic pain syndrome, causing a neuroendocrine response, is often the cause of the development of complications of atherosclerotic disease. Dyslipidemia is the main cause of atherosclerosis and vascular thrombosis.Objectives:To study variants of lipid metabolism disorders in female and male patients of different age groups with osteoarthritis.Methods:Case histories of 90 patients with OA were analyzed. The average age of patients was 63.27 ± 11.31 years. The average body mass index (BMI) is 39.8 ± 3.2. All patients underwent questionnaires, general clinical and biochemical blood tests with lipid profile determination, anthropometry, bioimpedansometry, and the main metabolic rate assessment using indirect calorimetry in dynamics (at the beginning of the study and after 3 months).Results:Burdened heredity for obesity, arterial hypertension (AH), diabetes mellitus (DM) was revealed. AH was diagnosed in 76 patients (84.4%), type II diabetes in 17 (18.9%), dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia in 56 (62.2%). Statins were taken by 43 patients (47.8%) - group I patients, which is associated with low adherence to therapy, group II included patients who did not initially take statins or stopped taking them at least 6 months before inclusion in the study.Against the background of diet therapy and physiotherapy exercises, BMI (R0.99; p <0.05), fat mass (R0.95; p <0.05) significantly decreased, lipid profile normalization was noted: total cholesterol (R0.66; p <0 .05), LDL (R0.69; p <0.05), HDL (R0.95; p <0.05), TG (R0.57; p <0.05), AST decreased (R0.64; p <0.05) and ALT (R0.76; p <0.05) in both groups of patients, regardless of lipid-lowering therapy. A decrease in fat mass correlated with TG levels (R0.51; p <0.05), an increase in skeletal muscle mass (R0.60; p <0.05), lean mass (R0.72; p <0.05), and active cell mass (R0.59; p <0.05). The lipid profile in the I group of patients was significantly better before and at the end of the study. Long-term effects have not been investigated due to the short duration of the study.Conclusion:In patients with OA, a high frequency of concomitant diseases of the cardiovascular system, lipid metabolism disorders was found. Non-drug therapy has a positive effect on the lipid profile and the level of transaminases. The decrease in body weight due to loss of fat mass reliably correlates with the level of TG. Timely use of statins contributes to the normalization of the lipid profile, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with OA. It is necessary to study lipid profile disorders in patients with OA with recommendations for lifestyle modification (diet, physical activity), and if necessary, prescribe lipid-correcting therapy.References:[1]E. Simakova, B. Zavodovsky, L. Sivordova [et al]. Prognostic significance of lipid disorders markers determination in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Vestnik Rossijskoj voenno-medicinskoj akademii. 2013. No. 2 (42). P.29-32.[2]Zavodovsky B.V., Sivordova L.E. Prognostic significance value of definition of leptin level determination in osteoarthritis. Siberian Medical Journal (Irkutsk). 2012; 115(8):069-072.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manoj Kumar ◽  
Vivek Saurabh ◽  
Maharishi Tomar ◽  
Muzaffar Hasan ◽  
Sushil Changan ◽  
...  

Mangifera indica L. belongs to the family of Anacardiaceae and is an important fruit from South and Southeast Asia. India, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and the Philippines are among the top mango producer countries. Leaves of the mango plant have been studied for their health benefits, which are attributed to a plethora of phytochemicals such as mangiferin, followed by phenolic acids, benzophenones, and other antioxidants such as flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and tocopherols. The extracts from mango leaves (MLs) have been studied for their biological activities, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-obesity, lipid-lowering, hepato-protection, and anti-diarrheal. In the present review, we have elaborated on the nutritional and phytochemical profile of the MLs. Further, various bioactivities of the ML extracts are also critically discussed. Considering the phytochemical profile and beneficial effects of the MLs, they can be used as a potential ingredient for the development of functional foods and pharmaceutical drugs. However, more detailed clinical trials still needed to be conducted for establishing the actual efficacy of the ML extracts.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Úna McMenamin ◽  
Blánaid Hicks ◽  
Carmel Hughes ◽  
Peter Murchie ◽  
Julia Hippisley-Cox ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used and has proven benefits for women with menopausal symptoms. An increasing number of women with cancer experience menopausal symptoms but the safety of HRT use in women with cancer is unclear. There are particular concerns that HRT could accelerate cancer progression in women with cancer, and also that HRT could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in such women. Therefore, our primary aim is to determine whether HRT use alters the risk of cancer-specific mortality in women with a range of common cancers. Our secondary objectives are to investigate whether HRT alters the risk of second cancers, cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism and all-cause mortality. Methods The study will utilise independent population-based data from Wales using the SAIL databank and Scotland based upon the national Prescribing Information System. The study will include women newly diagnosed with common cancers from 2000 to 2016, identified from cancer registries. Women with breast cancers will be excluded. HRT will be ascertained using electronic prescribing in Wales or dispensing records in Scotland. The primary outcome will be time to cancer-specific mortality from national mortality records. Time-dependent cox regression models will be used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for cancer specific death in HRT users compared with non-users after cancer diagnosis after adjusting for relevant confounders, stratified by cancer site. Analysis will be repeated investigating the impact of HRT use immediately before cancer diagnosis. Secondary analyses will be conducted on the risk of second cancers, cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism and all-cause mortality. Analyses will be conducted within each cohort and pooled across cohorts. Discussion Our study will provide evidence to inform guidance given to women diagnosed with cancer on the safety of HRT use and/or guide modifications to clinical practice.


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