Effects of atorvastatin on treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin in treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD).Methods Of 72 patients with NAFLD6,8 patients with elevated alanine transaminase(ALT)and cholesterol levels at baseline had completed the study.The patients were randomly divided into treatment trial group(n=38)and control group(n=30,ithout any treatment).The patients in trial group were orally received 10 or 20 mg of atorvastatin daily according to basal serum cholesterol levels being≤or＞6.5 mmol/L,respectively.The parameters including body mass index,serum cholesterol level and ALT level were tested and liver density was assessed by echography at baseline and 6 months after treatment.Results There was a significant difference in syndrome scores between baseline and 6 months after treatment[(11.05±1.29)vs.(6.08±0.87)]in trial group(t=1.96,P＜0.05).Six months after treatment,11 patients in trial group were presented with normal ALT levels.whereas only 2 patients in control group had normal ALT levels (P＜0.05).There was a significant differenee in cholesterol level between baseline and 6 months after treatment[(6.6±0.54)ramol/L vs.(5.4±0.5)mmol/L]in trial group(t=1.72,P＜0.05).In addition,there was no differenee in body mass index between baseline and 6 months after treatment both in rial group[(26.8±2.9)kg/m2 vs.(26.4±2.8)kg/m2]and control group[(26.5±2.3)kg/m2 vs.(26.4±2.2)kg/m2](P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in liver density of two groups before and after treatment(P＞0.05).No side effect was reported.Conclusions Serum ALT and cholesterol levels are reduced significantly in all patients treated with atorvastatin.It is effective and safe for atorvastatin in treating NAFLD patients with hypercholesterolemia. Key words: Fatty liver,alcoholic Hypercholesterolemia Atorvastatin