Lipid disorders and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are known to be increased in patients with diabetes mellitus. The effects of statins on serum lipid levels are well known; however, previous studies did not compare the effects of statins on serum lipid levels in diabetic patients with non-diabetic patients. To investigate the effects of Atorvastatin on serum lipid profiles in hyperlipidemic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in comparison with hyperlipidemic patients without diabetes.This study was conducted on 33 type 2 diabetic patients & 34 non-diabetic patients; their age range was 40-80 years, all of them were hyperlipidemic, who had been administered 10, 20, & 40 mg daily of Atorvastatin and completed a 6-month follow-up. Serum lipids were measured before and after treatment at 1, 3, and 6 months.It was found that the reduction in S. Total Cholesterol and S. LDL-C were less in diabetic patients than that in non-diabetic patients when they are using the same doses of Atorvastatin, while the changes in S. HDL-C and S. Triglyceride were nearly similar in both. Furthermore, it is noticed that nearly the same responses of S. Cholesterol and S. LDL-C reduction were achieved in diabetic patients when they are using doubled doses that are used for non-diabetic patients.So,higher doses of Atorvastatin (double doses) are needed to improve serum lipid levels in diabetic patients as compared to non-diabetic patients.
Key words: Diabetic , Lipids , Atorvastatin.
