Effect of atorvastatin on paraoxonase activity in patients with hyperlipidemia

Paraoxonase is high density lipoprotein associated enzyme which prevents the oxidation of low density lipoprotein. In the present study we evaluated the effect of atorvastatin on serum paraoxonase levels in south Indian population with hyperlipidemia. The study was conducted on 59 newly diagnosed hyperlipidemic patients and 41 healthy controls. Hyperlipidemic patients were divided into two groups, group 1-before treatment and group 2-three months after receiving 10 mg atorvastatin daily. Serum paraoxonase and lipid profile were estimated in both cases and controls. Serum paraoxonase activity and high density lipoprotein levels were lower and total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoproteins were high in hyperlipidemics compared to controls (p<0.01). Serum paraoxonase activity and high density lipoproteins levels were increased and total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein levels were decreased significantly in group 2 cases compared to group 1 cases (p<0.01). Serum paraoxonase correlated positively with high density lipoprotein (R = 0.347, p<0.01). Atorvastatin apart from favorably improving lipid profile, also improves paraoxonase activity significantly, this may suggest anti-atherogenic role of statins along with their antilipidemic function.