Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy pitavastatin and atorvastatin in treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods 98 patients with NAFLD were randomly divided into observation and control group, with 49 patients in each. The patients in the control group received atorvastatin, and those in the observation group received pivastatin for 6 months. Serum insulin, C-peptide (C-P) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels were assayed and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Results At the end of treatment, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterin levels in the observation group were (3.8±1.2) mmol/L, (2.3±0.6) mmol/L and (2.1±0.5) mmol/L,significantly lower than [(4.7±1.3) mmol/L, (2.9±0.7) mmol/L and (2.6±0.4) mmol/L, respectively, P<0.05], while serum high density lipoprotein cholesterin level was (1.4±0.2) mmol/L, significantly higher than [(1.2±0.3) mmol/L, P<0.05] in the control; serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase levels were (47.4±14.1)U/L,(42.3±8.6)U/L and (52.1±7.5)U/L, significantly lower than 【(61.2±19.2)U/L,(56.9±9.2)U/L and(69.6±6.4)U/L, respectively, P<0.05】 in the control; serum TNF-α and C-P levels were (3.3±1.2)ng/L and (3.2±0.9)ng/L, significantly lower than 【(4.1±1.1)ng/L and (4.5±0.6)ng/L, P<0.05】 in the control, while there was no significantly difference of HOMA-IR in the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The pivastatin administration has a good role of reducing lipids, anti-inflammatory reaction and improving IR in patients with NAFLD, which needs further investigation.

Key words: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Pitavastatin, Atorvastatin, Lipids, Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index