ABSTRACT
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/m~2 vs.(26.4±2.8)kg/m~2]and control group[(26.5±2.3)kg/m~2 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.