Role of Magnesium Supplement on Hyperlipidemia and L-CAT Level in Patient on Atorvastatin Therapy

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of magnesium supplement to atorvastatin on hyperlipidemic patients and to elucidate the possible ability of oral magnesium supplement to counteract or delay statins induced myalgia.
Study Design: Forty hyperlipidemic male and female patients were randomly divided into two groups: group one consisted of twenty patients, who received atorvastatin 10 mg once daily for 6 weeks then 20 mg once daily for another 6 weeks; group two consisted of twenty patients, who received the same dose of atorvastatin plus once daily oral low dose magnesium sulfate trihydrate 419.5 mg equivalent to 50 mg of magnesium.
Place and Duration of Study: The Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Research Center of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Egypt, between July to December 2013.
Methodology: Two samples of venous blood (2 ml + 8 ml =10 ml total), were collected from all individuals, and were drawn from the antecubital vein before, 1.5 and 3 months after treatment. Sera and plasma were separated immediately for biochemical analyses of lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (L-CAT) (ELISA), creatine kinase (CK), serum Ca+, Mg++, Na+, K+, lipid profile and aspartate transaminase (AST) (colorimetrically), and serum creatinine (S.Cr) spectrophotometrically.
Results: The statistical analysis revealed that, 3 months after treatment, both groups showed significant amelioration in lipid profiles and significant elevation in L-CAT level regarding to baseline data obtained before initiation of treatment. In addition, the patients received atorvastatin plus magnesium supplement showed significantly higher levels of serum magnesium, plasma L-CAT and HDL-cholesterol concentrations and significantly lower total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations with non significant lower CK level as compared to the patients group received atorvastatin solely.
Conclusion: Mg++ supplement to atorvastatin improve all lipid profile and provide better control on dyslipidemia than atorvastatin alone. However, Mg++ supplement to atorvastatin doesn’t prevent elevation in CK; it may delay and provide some protection against statin induced myopathy that in turn may increase patient compliance.