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The effect of simvastatin and bezafibrate on bile composition and gall‐bladder emptying in female non‐insulin‐dependent diabetics
Author(s) -
WILSON I. R.,
HURRELL M. A.,
PATTINSON N. R.,
CHAPMAN B. A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1994.tb01272.x
Subject(s) - bezafibrate , medicine , simvastatin , endocrinology , cholesterol , insulin , gastroenterology , diabetes mellitus
Female non‐insulin‐dependent diabetics have a high prevalence of gallstones. Treatment of hyperlipidaemia in these patients may modify the risk. Seventeen female non‐insulin‐dependent diabetics (age 35–65) were treated with simvastatin ( n = 10) or bezafibrate ( n = 7) and had the cholesterol saturation index (CSI) of bile and gall‐bladder emptying measured before and after 3 months therapy. In both groups, there was a significant reduction in serum cholesterol following treatment. The mean pretreatment cholesterol saturation indices of bile did not differ between the two groups but, after 3 months therapy, there was a highly significant difference in CSI between the bezafibrate group (2.0 ± 0.33) and the simvastatin group (1.1 ± 0.14) P < 0.002. Whereas the increase in the CSI (42%) observed with bezafibrate therapy was significant, the decrease in the simvastatin group (14%) was only significant in those whose pretreatment cholesterol saturation indices were elevated. Despite the differences in CSI observed between the two treatment groups, no changes in gall‐bladder emptying were detected.