Response to Letter Regarding Article, 'Statin Use and Adrenal Aldosterone Production in Hypertensive and Diabetic Subjects'

We thank Dr Campbell for his interest in our study,1 and the fair and helpful comments from the accompanying editorial by Andersson and Vasan, as well.2 We are in agreement with Dr Campbell that statins may influence adrenal steroidogenesis via a multitude of effects. Our study focused mainly on the regulation of aldosterone by using a series of complex physiological maneuvers that included manipulation of angiotensin II and potassium. The subjects in our study were not taking antihypertensive therapy or were withdrawn of therapy, thus allowing investigation of their native physiology. In this context, our use of extreme sodium diets permitted the study of aldosterone when the renin-angiotensin system was maximally suppressed on high sodium and maximally stimulated on low sodium intake in the context of a fixed potassium diet. Therefore, all our assessments of aldosterone were conducted under conditions whereby the …