Atorvastatin and Fenofibrate Modulate Certain Steroidal Hormones, Vitamin D and Bile Acids in Diabetic Dyslipidemic Rats

Objectives: To investigate the effect of long term intake of traditionally used hypolipidemic drugs, atorvastatin and fenofibrate, on cholesterol derived products including steroidal hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts. Materials and methods: Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups including a normal control group and the other groups were rendered diabetic dyslipidemic (DD) and received placebo, atorvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight/day, p.o) “LD50 > 5000 mg/kg”, or fenofibrate (100 mg/kg body weight/day, p.o) “ LD50 > 2g/kg” for 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. Lipid profile, glycemic index and steroidal hormones levels were measured to evaluate the biological activities of these drugs. Results: DD rats demonstrated significant increase in serum glucose, fructosamine, total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), atherogenic index (AI), and bile acids along with HDL-C decrease. Serum insulin and insulin resistance increased after 4 weeks and decreased after 8 weeks. Insulin, free testosterone, aldosterone, cortisol and vitamin D levels showed significant decrease. Atorvastatin or fenofibrate treatment resulted in significant decrease in serum glucose, fructosamine, TC, TAG, bile acids and vitamin D levels along with increase in HDL-C, insulin, aldosterone and cortisol but failed to achieve normal level of free testosterone. Fenofibrate improved insulin sensitivity in DD only after 8 weeks. Conclusions: Administration of hypolipidemic drugs seems to modulate certain cholesterol derived products in DD rats.