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The Effect of Green Tea on Simvastatin Tolerability
- José Pablo Werba, MD;
- Monica Giroli, PhD;
- Viviana Cavalca, PhD;
- Maria Cristina Nava, MD, PhD;
- Elena Tremoli, PhD; and
- Lorenzo Dal Bo, PhD
- From Cardiologico Monzino Center, Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milan 20138, Italy, and Institute for Pharmacokinetic and Analytical Studies, Ligornetto 6853, Switzerland.
Background: Many patients taking statins report muscle pain, which affects the patients' quality of life and adherence to treatment. Muscle effects of statins may be induced by interaction not only with other drugs but also with components of particular foods, such as grapefruit juice, which augment statin bioavailability (1).
Objective: To report a case of statin muscle intolerance that was probably triggered by consumption of green tea.
Case Report: A 61-year-old man had a history of primary hypercholesterolemia identified at age 50 years, and treatment with different statins was unsuccessful because of early muscle intolerance. He reported a family history of premature coronary disease, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, but no heritable myopathy. The patient had been treated for hypertension since age 45 years with amlodipine, 10 mg/d. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol–lowering treatment with simvastatin, atorvastatin, …
