The Effect of Simvastatin on Plasma Steroid Hormone Levels in Metformin-Treated Women with Non-Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

The study explored the impact of simvastatin on women with non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) who were already being treated with metformin for carbohydrate metabolism disturbances. It included 8 women with NC-CAH and diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, and a control group of 12 women with similar glucose metabolism issues but normal adrenal function. After 12 weeks of daily simvastatin treatment, the study found that simvastatin lowered total and LDL cholesterol in both groups. Additionally, in the NC-CAH group, simvastatin decreased levels of testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione, DHEA-S, and showed a tendency to reduce 17-hydroxyprogesterone. The results suggest that metformin combined with simvastatin could be beneficial for managing symptoms in women with NC-CAH. However, the study's small sample size and short duration limit the strength of these conclusions, and larger trials are needed to confirm the findings. The study was funded by the Medical University of Silesia and reported no conflicts of interest.