Research finds Statin simvastatin appears to prevent or reverse vascular injury in diabetic rats

Since most patients with diabetes die from some vascular complication, Medical College of Georgia researchers set out to determine the effects of simvastatin on endothelial cell dysfunction, an early pivotal event in atherogenesis and a major cause of the microvascular complications in diabetics. The researchers found that in addition to lowering cholesterol levels, simvastatin also appeared to prevent or reverse vascular injury by vasoprotective means. In a well-established rat model of diabetes, simvastatin protected against the development of diabetes-induced endothelial cell dysfunction in vessels of the heart, kidney, and eye.

Dr. Ma concludes, “The data indicate that simvastatin protects against diabetes induced dysfunction,” and Dr. Caldwell says, “The usefulness of statins in the treatment of diabetic patients is being realized.”

Source: Statin simvastatin linked to protection against endothelial dysfunction in diabetic rats