The aim of study was to determine the effect of different dosages of simvastatin on gene
expression of Acetyl CoA Carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and Fatty Acid Synthase (FAS) in Wister rat
hepatic tissues fed with high fat diets (HFD) and its association with serum fatty acid
proportion and concentration. Four groups of rats (G1 to G4) were included. ACC1 and FAS
expressions were analyzed by Real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Fatty acid
concentration was measured by gas chromatography. There were significant differences when
G4 versus G3, G4 and G3 versus G1 and G4 and G3 versus G2 was compared for total fatty
acid concentration. The proportion of oleic acid to stearic acid showed significant decrease
when G4 versus G3, G4 versus G2 and G4 versus G1 groups were compared, but the
proportion of stearic acid to palmitic acid, linoleic acid to oleic acid (G3 versus G4) and oleic
acid to palmitic acid in G4 increased when compared to G1, G2 and G3 groups. Treatment with
simvastatin significantly increases or decreases some fatty acid ratio, serum fatty acid and total
fatty acid concentrations. We also found that HFD led to no significant differences in ACC1 and
FAS mRNA expression. Simvastatin increases proportion of linoleic acid to oleic acid, oleic
acid to palmitic acid and oleic acid to stearic acid. Thus, statin therapy may be considered in
prevention of cardiovascular and myocardial risk.