Oral administration of pravastatin reduces egg cholesterol but not plasma cholesterol in laying hens

The effect of different 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR)-inhibitors (statins) on plasma and egg cholesterol in laying hens was investigated. Forty-four ISA brown layers were fed lovastatin, simvastatin, or pravastatin at 0.03 or 0.06% for 4 wk. Cholesterol levels in plasma, liver, and egg yolk as well as hen laying performance were studied. Egg weight was significantly lowered with all statin treatments, although egg production was relatively unaffected. Total plasma cholesterol was significantly reduced by 0.06% lovastatin, 0.03% simvastatin, and 0.06% simvastatin, in agreement with previous reports, whereas pravastatin had no effect. In contrast, liver cholesterol concentrations showed a significant decrease in response to 0.03 and 0.06% pravastatin, implying selective regulation of liver cholesterol synthesis. Furthermore, oral administration with 0.06% pravastatin reduced egg cholesterol levels by almost 20% compared with the control diet. This suggests that pravastatin, unlike other classes of statin, may be a good candidate for commercial production of low cholesterol eggs with limited impact on hen physiology and egg production.