Effects of rosuvastatin and colestimide on metabolic parameters and urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in type 2 diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia.

BACKGROUND: Rosuvastatin, a strong statin, and colestimide, a new anion exchange resin, are both clinically beneficial drugs for treatment of hypercholesterolemia. The main purpose of the study was to compare the effects of rosuvastatin and colestimide on metabolic parameters, adipokines, and markers of oxidative stress and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by hyperlipidemia. DESIGN: A total of 40 patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by hyperlipidemia were recruited prospectively and consecutively. The patients were assigned randomly in equal numbers to rosuvastatin (2.5 mg/day) and colestimide (3.0 g/day) groups. Blood and urine tests were performed at the beginning of the study and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: Rosuvastatin significantly decreased the level of serum retinol-binding protein (RBP)-4, an insulin-resistant adipokine, in a subgroup of patients with poor glycemic control, in addition to exerting a strong low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C)-lowering effect. Colestimide significantly decreased HbA1c, even in patients treated with a sulfonylurea at a more than moderate dose, without influencing insulin resistance or adiponectin (an insulin-sensitive adipokine) and RBP4. Colestimide also significantly decreased the levels of urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin (PG) F2alpha (a marker of oxidative stress) and urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (a marker of diabetic nephropathy). CONCLUSION: Our results show that rosuvastatin and colestimide exert different beneficial effects in type 2 diabetic patients complicated by hyperlipidemia. Therefore, concomitant use of these drugs may be useful for prevention of progression of diabetic complications.