Lipid-lowering characteristics and clinical milestones of statins
What are the characteristics of statins?
Statins, also known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, work by competitively inhibiting the activity of the rate-limiting enzyme in early cholesterol synthesis within cells. This, in turn, upregulates LDL receptors on the cell surface, accelerating the catabolism of plasma LDL. They also inhibit VLDL synthesis. Therefore, statins significantly reduce TC, LDL-C, and Apo B, and also lower TG levels and slightly increase HDL-C.
Existing studies have repeatedly demonstrated that the clinical benefit of statins in reducing ASCVD events is linearly positively correlated with the extent of LDL-C reduction. The clinical benefit of statin treatment stems from the LDL-C reduction effect. Different types and dosages of statins vary considerably in their cholesterol-lowering effect. However, when the dose of any statin is doubled, the further reduction in LDL-C is only about 6%, the so-called "6% statin effect." Statins can reduce TG levels by 7%–30% and increase HDL-C levels by 5%–15%.
Although Xuezhikang capsules are classified as a lipid-regulating traditional Chinese medicine, their lipid-regulating mechanism is similar to that of statins. Its components are refined through modern standard processes using specially made red yeast rice and bio-fermentation. The main components are 13 natural compound statins, including lovastatin and its analogues. The usual dose is 0.6 g, twice daily. The Chinese Coronary Disease Secondary Prevention Study (CCSPS) and other clinical studies have confirmed that Xuezhikang capsules can lower cholesterol and significantly reduce the overall mortality rate, coronary heart disease mortality rate, and incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease. Adverse reactions are few.
In addition, statins may also have anti-inflammatory and endothelial protective effects, which may be associated with a reduction in coronary heart disease events. Statins are currently the most important drugs for the prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic diseases. The advent of statins is a milestone in the history of ASCVD prevention and treatment.
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