The key difference between fat soluble and water soluble statins is that fat-soluble statins can easily enter cells and interact with cell membranes, whereas water-soluble statins show a greater hepatoselectivity and cannot easily enter cells.
Statins are any group of drugs that can act to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood. In other words, these are prescription medications that are useful in lowering cholesterol levels in individuals with atherosclerotic heart disease or those at increased risk of developing atherosclerotic heart disease. These drugs can block cholesterol production in the liver. There are two types as fat-soluble statins (lipophilic statins) and water-soluble statins (hydrophilic statins). According to some studies, hydrophilic statins are advantageous compared to lipophilic statins.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Fat Soluble Statins
3. What are Water Soluble Statins
4. Similarities – Fat Soluble and Water Soluble Statins
5. Fat Soluble vs Water Soluble Statins in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Fat Soluble vs Water Soluble Statins
What is Fat Soluble Statins?
Fat-soluble statins or lipophilic statins are types of drugs that are soluble in lipids. The absorption of this type of drug is comparatively faster because they can dissolve in lipids and easily enter cell membranes. Fat-soluble statins are represented by non-ionized or nonpolar components of the drug. The kidney can poorly filter ionized molecules, but the fat-soluble statins are mostly reabsorbed back into the tubule. There, most of the fat-soluble substances are metabolized into polar metabolites that are water-soluble.
Figure 1: Absorption of Nutrients and Other Components into the Blood
What are Water Soluble Statins?
Water-soluble statins or hydrophilic statins are types of drugs that are soluble in water. The absorption of these drugs is relatively slow because they are not soluble in lipids. However, these drugs show the ease for renal excretion, which is greater than that of lipophilic statins. Water-soluble statins are represented by the ionized or polar components of the drug. Moreover, water-soluble statins are easily excreted without undergoing any transformation.
What are the Similarities Between Fat Soluble and Water Soluble Statins?
- The names, fat soluble and water soluble statins, represent drug classes/ medications.
- Both types of drugs are absorbed into cells before performing the desired action.
What is the Difference Between Fat Soluble and Water Soluble Statins?
Statins are any group of drugs that can help to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood. There are two types as fat soluble statins (lipophilic statins) and water soluble statins (hydrophilic statins). The key difference between fat soluble and water soluble statins is that fat soluble statins can easily enter cells and interact with cell membranes, whereas water soluble statins show a greater hepatoselectivity and cannot easily enter cells. Furthermore, the non-ionized portion of a drug represents the fat soluble statins, while the ionized portion represents the water soluble statins.
The below infographic presents the differences between fat soluble and water soluble statins in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Fat Soluble vs Water Soluble Statins
There are two types of statins as fat soluble statins (lipophilic statins) and water soluble statins (hydrophilic statins). Fat soluble statins or lipophilic statins are types of drugs that are soluble in lipids. Water soluble statins or hydrophilic statins are types of drugs that are soluble in water. The key difference between fat soluble and water soluble statins is that fat-soluble statins can easily enter cells and interact with cell membranes, whereas water soluble statins show a greater hepatoselectivity and cannot easily enter cells.
Reference:
1. Climent, Elisenda, et al. “Hydrophilic or Lipophilic Statins?” Frontiers, Frontiers, 1 Jan. 1AD.
2. Gerti Tashko, M.D. “Fat vs Water Soluble Statins.” GT Health, Endocrinology, GT Health, Endocrinology, 18 Aug. 2019.
3. “Statins: Are These Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Right for You?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 22 July 2021.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Nutrient absorbtion to blood and lymph” By Keministi – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia