Comparative evaluation of the effects of ezetimibe and atorvastatin on serum lipid profile changes in experimental hypercholesterolemia in cat

Hyperlipidemia is defined as an elevation of one or more of the serum lipids, including cholesterol or triglycerides, or both of them. The aim of the present survey was comparative evaluation of the effects of ezetimibe and atorvastatin on serum lipid profile changes in cats. Twenty healthy male cats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Cholesterol powder (4 g/kg for 10 days) was administered to group A (control), atorvastatin (5 mg/kg) to group B, ezetimibe (2.5 mg/kg) to group C, and a combination of atorvastatin and ezetimibe to group D. Blood samples were collected four times, then serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, VLDL-C, BUN, creatinine, and uric acid levels were measured using standard commercial kits. Groups B and C and especially group D were more effective in lowering serum lipid profile compared with group A (p = 0.001). The highest reduction of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and NEFA was in group D and the highest reduction of HDL-C was observed in group B (p = 0.001). BUN, creatinine, and uric acid levels were at normal range without any clinical findings. In conclusion, ezetimibe was more effective than atorvastatin in reducing cholesterol.