Heart arrhythmia drug may fight plaque buildup in blood vessels
![Human heart. Credit: copyright American Heart Association heart](https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2015/564ba46d8e103.jpg)
New research in mice provides convincing evidence that digoxin, a drug prescribed to treat atrial fibrillation, can help protect against atherosclerosis.
Investigators found that digoxin decreased the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol by 41%, 54%, and 20%, respectively, in mice treated with high-dose digoxin compared with control mice.
The findings are published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
More information: Huairui Shi et al. Digoxin reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice, British Journal of Pharmacology (2016). DOI: 10.1111/bph.13453