Statins and tissue mineralization: Putative involvement of alkaline phosphatase

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2006

Authors

Maria R Negrao (Author) FMUP; Ana Mota (Author) Other; Isabel Azevedo (Author) Other; Maria J Martins (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Medical Hypotheses

Vol. 67

Pages: 524-528

ISSN: 0306-9877

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 5 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Other medical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-QA5

DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.046

Abstract (EN): Many clinical trials have clearly demonstrated the benefit of statins in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Although other effects have subsequently been described, the so-called pleiotropic effects of statins, there is a tendency to relate aR those effects, more or less directly, to inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A. Several clinical and laboratory studies show an association between statins and increased bone formation and/or density, but no clear explanation for that statin effect has emerged. We therefore hypothetized that statins may have an effect on alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), an enzyme with an important role in bone mineralization and that may also contribute to pathological mineralization in other tissues, such as vascular calcification. Our experience with drug effects on ALP lead us to admit the possibility of finding a statin with an ALP increasing effect on bone but not on vascular tissue, or with a more marked effect upon one of the ALP isoforms or isoenzymes. That information would allow the design of clinical trials to confirm the suitability of a specific statin to a specific clinical condition.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 5