Background: Atorvastatin has been used as anti-hyperlipidemic agent in the primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic related vascular complications with adverse effects on liver and muscles. The classical functions of vitamin D are to regulate calcium-phosphorus homeostasis, andcontrol bone metabolism. In addition, evidence has been accumulated on the pleiotropic effects of vitamin D other than on bone health.
Objective: To study the effect of treatment with vitamin D and/or atorvastatin on high fat diet induced hyperlipidemic adult male albino rats.
Materials and methods: Forty-eight adult male albino rats of a local strain were used as an animal model for this study. They were divided into 8 equal groups; group 1 (control), group 2 (treated with vitamin D), group 3 (treated with atorvastatin), group 4 (treated with vitamin D and atorvastatin), group 5 (hyperlipidemic), group 6 (hyperlipidemic treated with vitamin D), group 7 (hyperlipidemic treated with atorvastatin), and group 8 (hyperlipidemic treated with vitamin D and atorvastatin).After 4 weeks, body weight was measured and then blood samples were collected and serum was separated for the measurement of fasting blood sugar (FBS), cholesterol, LDL, HDL, TAGs, ALT, AST and CPK.
Results: There was a significant improvement of FBS in hyperlipidemic vitamin D-treated group when compared to the hyperlipidemic non treated group. ALT and AST levels showed significant improvement in hyperlipidemic vitamin D-treated group when compared to the hyperlipidemic group. When compared to atorvastatin-treated group, vitamin D and atorvastatin treated groups showed significant improvement in ALT, AST and CPK levels.
Conclusion: Vitamin D shared in controlling blood sugar, and it has a protective effect against hyperlipidemia induced liver injury and against atorvastatin induced liver and muscle injury