Abstract

• Patient with noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) have a major risk factor of the coronary herat disease which is important cause of death in NIDDM patients. In addition, they have relatively high levels of plasma cholesterol.
  In order to assess the hypolipidemic effect and adverse effect of lovastatin, we studied in 30 NIDDM with mild to moderate elevations of serum cholesterol.
  Lovastatin, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor(20mg once daily in the evening) was given for 12 wks, during which blood glucose concentration remained controlled.
  The following results were obtained:
  1) Lovastatin reduced totol cholesterol by 26.4%, low-density lipoprotein(LDL) by 26.9%, and triglyceride(TG) by 26.7%.
  2) During the study period, one patient complained nausea and vomiting, the other patient complained itching. No abnormalities in serum values were noted.
  In conclusion, lovastatin was effective agent in NIDDM with hypercholeste rolemia without siginificant side effect.