Effects of Atorvastatin on Systemic and Renal Nitric Oxide in Healthy Man

Abstract

Statin treatment improves endothelial function but the effects of statins on renal nitric oxide have not been clarified. In this crossover study, 26 healthy subjects received atorvastatin 80 mg per day or placebo for 5 days. After 5 days of treatment, L-N^G-monomethyl arginine caused a similar increase in blood pressure and decrease in urine output and glomerular filtration rate. The decrease in fractional excretion of sodium to L-N^G-monomethyl arginine was more pronounced after atorvastatin treatment. Atorvastatin did not change the response to several vasoactive hormones. The results indicate that atorvastatin increase renal nitric oxide, which may explain a part of the pleiotropic effects of statins.

• nitric oxide
• statin
• fractional excretion of sodium
• blood pressure
• renin–angiotensin system

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the laboratory technicians Lisbeth Mikkelsen, Anne Mette Ravn, Henriette Vorup Simonsen, and Kirsten Nyborg for skillful assistance in examining subjects and doing laboratory analyses.

Declaration of interest: The project was supported by grants from the Region Midt's Research Foundation, University of Aarhus, and Eva and Henry Fraenkel's foundation. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.