SIMVASTATIN TREATMENT AMELIORATES DIABETIC TYPE 2 CONDITIONS THROUGH LOWERING THE CONCENTRATION OF PLASMA ICAM LEVELS

Abstract

Diabetes type 2 is associated with other diseases including cardiovascular diseases. Obesity is a link between diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and associated with insulin resistance. Statins are used to reduce lipids and to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of the present study was to explore the effect of statin treatment on plasma levels of ICAM among diabetics. The study design was a prospective cohort clinical study. The study included 62 diabetic patients who were recruited from the Diabetes/Endocrine Clinics of the Prince Rashed Hospital. Data were collected from participants through a prepared questionnaire and laboratory findings of lipid profiles, glucose and ICAM levels. Study findings showed no significant variations between study and control groups at baseline level. At the end of the experiment, in study group, there were significant changes in some biochemical parameters such as ICAM level (p=0.005), cholesterol (0.019), and TG (0.025). The mean difference of study and control groups showed that significant variations were observed for the following variables ICAM (p<0.005), cholesterol (p=0.008), TG (p<0.005), and HDDL (p<0.005). Taken together, the present study showed that simvastatin therapy benefits diabetic patients even without hyperlipidemia through decreasing levels of ICAM-1, which have an inflammatory action and increase insulin resistance. It can be concluded that simvastatin is insulin sensitizer and works as anti-inflammatory agent.