Background: High lipid serum level was a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Lovastatin and exercise on hyperlipidemic patients at Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital during 2005–6.

Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was carried out on hyperlipidemic patients (age>30 years). After registering the personal data of the patients the participants were selected based on the inclusion criteria (HDL<35 mg/dl, LDL≥160 mg/dl, TG≥200 mg/dl, Chol≥200 mg/dl). the Lovastatin group (40 mg/daily) and the exercise group (waking 35 minutes/day, 3 times a week). The clinical tests were repeated for six consecutive weeks. Data were analyzed using t-Test, Wilcoxon Signed Rample Test, Kolomogorou-Smirnov Test, Mann-Whitney Test, levens Test.

Results: from Ninety-six out of 150 cases were hyperlipidmic signifying that only 80 (59 male, mean age 55.12±8.4 case and control 55.35±9.2 years) out of 150 hyperlipidemic patients were qualified for the study. The mean decrease in TG level between the Lovastatin and exercise groups were 21.4 (P=0.2) and 20.5 mg/dl (P=0.2), respectively. The mean decrease in cholesterol level between Lovastatin and exercise groups were 41.3 and 1.5 mg/dL (P=0.001). The mean decrease in LDL level between Lovastatin and exercise groups were 35.8 and 8.5 mg/dl (P<0.001), respectively. Finally, the mean increase in HDL level between Lovastatin and exercise groups were 5.4 and 0.4 mg/dl.

Conclusion: exercise may be effective for decreasing the LDL. While Lovastatin could decrease the total cholesterol TG and increase HDL levels, using a combination is recommended for hyperlipidemic patients.