The effects of 1-year ezetimibe treatment on vitamin D levels and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal women

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ezetimibe 0E) on 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and bone turnover markers. Among the patients referring to the Centre for Lipidic and Dietary Disorders at the University of Siena we selected 15 hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women (61.1 -4- 5.6 yrs), who had not reached an adequate control of LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) after a treatment of at least 3-months with atorvastatin (A) 20 mg daily. In these patients E 10 mg was associated to A 20 mg daily. As controls, we selected 15 hypercholesterolemic age-matched women (61.5 -4- 6.3 yrs) on treatment with A 20 mg daily who had reached a good control of serum cholesterol (LDL-C< 130 mg/dl), who continued the treatment. In all patients at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months we measured serum calcium, serum phosphate, 25OHD, parathyroid hormone (PTH), bone alkaline phoshatase (BALP) and carboxy terminal fragment of type I collagen (CTx). Daily calcium intake was measured by a validated questionnaire. Eleven of 15 patients of the E/A group at the end of the 1-year study period reached the target level of serum cholesterol (LDL C< 130 mg/dl). PTH, 25OHD and serum calcium did not show any significant variation in both the two groups. No differences between the two study groups were found. BALP and CTx showed a no significant increase after 3-months in E/A group. No correlation was found between the changes bone turnover markers and 25OHD serum levels in both the two groups. In conclusion, the present study suggests that 1-yeax treatment with E does not influence 25OHD serum levels and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal hypercholesterolemic women.