A Randomized, Double-Blinded Study of Simvastatin 20 mg/Day Versus Vytorin 10/20 in Subjects With Lipid Profiles Not Meeting Current NCEP Guidelines, Following a Low-Carbohydrate Diet (LOCUST)

A Randomized, Double-Blinded Study of Simvastatin 20 mg/Day Versus Vytorin 10/20 in Subjects With Lipid Profiles Not Meeting Current NCEP Guidelines, Following a Low-Carbohydrate Diet

A Randomized, Double-Blinded Study of Simvastatin 20 mg/Day Versus Vytorin 10/20 in Subjects With Lipid Profiles Not Meeting Current NCEP Guidelines, Following a Low-Carbohydrate Diet

People who follow a low-carbohydrate diet typically experience a decrease in triglycerides and increase in HDL-C level, but fail to lower their LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Such patients may require lipid-lowering therapy. Statins may not be the most effective strategy for patients on this diet, since they typically consume a greater amount of saturated fat and cholesterol. Absorbed cholesterol may contribute more to their circulating plasma LDL-C. We hypothesize that patients following a low carbohydrate diet would experience a significantly greater decrease in LDL-C by taking ezetimibe 10 mg, a drug that blocks cholesterol uptake in the intestine, in addition to simvastatin 20 mg, when compared to taking simvastatin 20 mg alone.

Inclusion Criteria: Moderately obese with hyperlipidemia Exclusion Criteria: Recent unstable heart or lung condition Current use of other lipid modifying drugs Hepatic disease Pregnancy or lactation

Chirinos JA, Williams MM, Bregman DB, Ashfaq H, Khayyam U, Iqbal N. Efficacy of cholesterol uptake inhibition added to statin therapy among subjects following a low-carbohydrate diet: a randomized controlled trial. Am Heart J. 2010 May;159(5):918.e1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2010.02.010.