Atorvastatin Plus Metformin Confer Additive Benefits on Subjects with Dyslipidemia and Overweight/Obese via Reducing ROCK2 Concentration

Background: Atorvastatin and metformin both have pleiotropic effects. Whether atorvastatin combined with metformin could provide additive benefits on subjects with dyslipidemia and overweight/obese is unknown. And the mechanism is also not fully clear yet. Methods: A cross-sectional research was performed and 130 subjects with dyslipidemia and overweight/obese were enrolled and randomly assigned into combined group (20 mg of atorvastatin daily plus 500 mg of metformin twice daily) and control group (20 mg of atorvastatin daily). At baseline and 8 weeks later, parameters of interest were recorded and fasting venous blood was drawn for laboratory examination. Results: The rates of overweight (76.9 % vs. 73.8 %) and obese (23.1 % vs. 26.2 %) in both group were comparable. Dyslipidemia in both groups were featured by increased serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Serum level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) was comparably elevated in both groups at baseline, and leukocyte rho-associated kinase 2 (ROCK2) and serum nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were also comparable. Generally, the baseline characteristics between these 2 groups were no significant differences. 8 weeks later, compared to baseline, body mass index (BMI), the rates of overweight and obese, daily exercise time, smoking status, lipid profiles, Hs-CRP level, leukocyte ROCK2 and serum NO concentrations in both groups were improved. Notably, compared to control group, the rate of obese, Hs-CRP level, leukocyte ROCK2 and serum NO concentrations were improved more profoundly in the combined group (p < 0.05). After adjusted for age, gender, BMI, TG, LDL-C, Hs-CRP and exercise time, atorvastatin plus metformin was positively associated with serum NO concentration, with odds ratio (OR) of 1.146 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.089-1.164, combined group vs. control group, p < 0.05), and inversely associated with leukocyte ROCK2 concentration, with OR of 0.853 (95 % CI 0.834-0.872, combined group vs. control group, p < 0.05). Conclusion: In subjects with dyslipidemia and overweight/obese, atorvastatin plus metformin may confer additive benefits through reducing leukocyte ROCK2 concentration.