Effects of evolving lipid-lowering drugs on carbohydrate metabolism

The understanding that statins reduce but not eliminate the cardiovascular risk associated with disturbed lipid metabolism and the existence of forms of dyslipidemia that are unresponsive or only partially responsive to statins have led to the development of many novel lipid-lowering drugs. Accumulating evidence suggests that the interplay between carbohydrate and lipid metabolism is bidirectional. Thus, any intervention that affects lipid metabolism has the potential to influence the homeostasis of glucose. In this review we summarize the available data on the effects of the evolving lipid-lowering drugs on carbohydrate metabolism.