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Horm Metab Res 2020; 52(10): 742-746
DOI: 10.1055/a-1099-9556
Endocrine Research

Acute Statin Administration Reduces Levels of Steroid Hormone Precursors

Edra London
1   Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
,
Christina Tatsi
1   Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
,
Steven J. Soldin
2   Department of Laboratory Medicine, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
,
Christopher A. Wassif
1   Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
,
Peter Backlund
3   Biomedical Mass Spectrometry Core, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
,
David Ng
4   Medical Genomics and Metabolic Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
,
Leslie G. Biesecker
4   Medical Genomics and Metabolic Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
,
Constantine A. Stratakis
1   Section on Endocrinology and Genetics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
› Author Affiliations Funding This research was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Intramural Research Program.
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Abstract

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are used by approximately 25% of US adults 45 years of age and older and frequency of use is even higher among the elderly. Cholesterol provides the substrate for steroid hormone synthesis and its intracellular concentrations are tightly regulated. Our aim was to evaluate whether statin use acutely changes the circulating levels of cortisol, other glucocorticoid precursor molecules and their metabolites. Fourteen subjects not taking statins were administered a single oral dose (2 mg) of pitavastatin. Blood samples collected at baseline and 24 h post-treatment were analyzed for plasma cholesterol and steroid hormone profile. A parallel study in mice entailed the administration of atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) via orogastric delivery for three consecutive days. Cholesterol and corticosterone levels were quantified at baseline and at 1-day and 1-week post-treatment. Several precursor molecules in the steroidogenic pathway (corticosterone, cortisone, and 11-deoxycortisol) were significantly decreased 24 h after administration of a single dose of pitavastatin in human study subjects. Their circulating cholesterol concentrations were unchanged. In mice, there were no significant differences in serum cholesterol or corticosterone at 1-day or 1-week post-treatment compared to both pre-treatment baseline levels and control group levels. We conclude that acute dysregulation of the production of certain glucocorticoid precursor molecules was observed after a single treatment with a lipophilic statin drug. This may be of clinical relevance for individuals with underlying or subclinical adrenal insufficiency.

Key words

glucocorticoids - cholesterol - statin


Publication History

Received: 12 August 2019

Accepted: 09 January 2020

Article published online:
10 February 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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