HDL biology
Atorvastatin lowers CETP activity and raises paraoxonase without changing HDL cholesterol (Clin Biochem 2006)
Original title: The effect of atorvastatin therapy on lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase, cholesteryl ester transfer protein and the antioxidant paraoxonase
Thirty-three patients with type IIa and IIb primary hyperlipoproteinemia received atorvastatin 20 mg daily for three months. Atorvastatin significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and apoB, while HDL-cholesterol and apoA-I were unchanged. Serum paraoxonase-specific activity, the paraoxonase-to-HDL ratio, and LCAT activity all rose significantly, while oxidized LDL and CETP activity both fell significantly. The authors conclude atorvastatin may improve HDL composition and function by raising paraoxonase activity, potentially contributing to atherosclerosis prevention independent of its effect on HDL-cholesterol level.
Original abstract
Objectives: The aim of our study was to examine the influence of atorvastatin on lipid parameters, particularly on HDL, and on the activity of LCAT and CETP and how they affect the activity of the HDL-associated antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase.
Design And Methods: Thirty-three patients with types II.a and II.b primary hyperlipoproteinemia were enrolled into our study. The patients received atorvastatin, 20 mg daily, for 3 months. We measured the serum paraoxonase activity and concentration, oxidized LDL, LCAT and CETP activities.
Results: Atorvastatin significantly reduced the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C and apoB, while it did not influence the levels of HDL-C and apo A-I. The increases in serum PON-specific activity, PON/HDL ratio and LCAT activity were significant, while oxLDL and CETP activities were significantly decreased.
Conclusion: Atorvastatin may influence the composition and function of HDL, thereby possibly increasing the activity of paraoxonase and preventing atherosclerosis.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.