Statin therapy and plasma vitamin E concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials

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#antioxidants #atherosclerosis #biomarkers #dyslipidemias #humans

Statin therapy and plasma vitamin E concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials

Sahebkar et al., 2015 | Atherosclerosis | Meta Analysis

Citation

Sahebkar Amirhossein, Simental-Mendía Luis E, ... Golledge Jonathan. Statin therapy and plasma vitamin E concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Atherosclerosis. 2015-Dec;243(2):579-88. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.09.028

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E is one of the most important natural antioxidants, and its plasma levels are inversely associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. There have been reports suggesting a potential negative effect of statin therapy on plasma vitamin E levels. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the impact of statin therapy on plasma vitamin E concentrations. METHODS: PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched to identify randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the impact of statins on plasma vitamin E concentrations from inception to February 27, 2015. A systematic assessment of bias in the included studies was performed using the Cochrane criteria. A random-effects model (using DerSimonian-Laird method) and the generic inverse variance method were used to examine the effect of statins on plasma vitamin E concentrations. Heterogeneity was quantitatively assessed using the I(2) index. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the leave-one-out method. RESULTS: A meta-analysis of data from 8 randomized treatment arms including 504 participants indicated a significant reduction in plasma vitamin E concentrations following statin treatment (WMD: -16.30%, 95% CI: -16.93, -15.98, p < 0.001). However, cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E concentrations (defined as vitamin E:total cholesterol ratio) were found to be improved by statin therapy (WMD: 29.35%, 95% CI: 24.98, 33.72, p < 0.001). Statin therapy was not associated with any significant alteration in LDL vitamin E content (SMD: 0.003, 95% CI: -0.90, 0.90, p = 0.995). CONCLUSION: Findings of the present study suggest that statin therapy has no negative impact on plasma vitamin E concentrations or LDL vitamin E content.

Key Findings

A meta-analysis of data from 8 randomized treatment arms including 504 participants indicated a significant reduction in plasma vitamin E concentrations following statin treatment (WMD: -16.30%, 95% CI: -16.93, -15.98, p < 0.001). However, cholesterol-adjusted vitamin E concentrations (defined as vitamin E:total cholesterol ratio) were found to be improved by statin therapy (WMD: 29.35%, 95% CI: 24.98, 33.72, p < 0.001). Statin therapy was not associated with any significant alteration in LDL vi

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 504
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Antioxidants
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Biomarkers
  • Dyslipidemias
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Lipids
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin E

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-e

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09