1. Westerweel PE et al. Eur Heart J 2008;29:2808-17

2. Patient flow diagram
Westerweel PE et al. Eur Heart J 2008;29:

3. Baseline subject characteristics and effect of treatment on general parameters
Westerweel PE et al. Eur Heart J 2008;29:

4. Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) levels are reduced in subjects with the metabolic syndrome
Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) levels are reduced in subjects with the metabolic syndrome. Both lipid-lowering treatments increased EPC levels. Circulating levels of CD34þKDRþ EPCs quantified per mL blood were reduced in obese men with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) when compared to matched controls. Combination treatment of 10 mg simvastatin with 10 mg ezetimibe lowered LDL-cholesterol similarly as monotherapy with 80 mg simvastatin. There were no significant differences between the two treatment arms. Mean+SD cells/ mL. *P < 0.05.
Westerweel PE et al. Eur Heart J 2008;29:

5. Regression analysis for endothelial progenitor cell levels in healthy controls and obese men with the metabolic syndrome at baseline combined
Westerweel PE et al. Eur Heart J 2008;29:

6. Regression analysis of progenitor cell mobilizing cytokines with progenitor cell levels
Westerweel PE et al. Eur Heart J 2008;29:

7. Serum levels of progenitor cell mobilizing cytokines vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and SCF-sR before and after treatment
Serum levels of progenitor cell mobilizing cytokines vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and SCF-sR before and after treatment. At baseline, serum VEGF levels were lower in subjects with the metabolic syndrome, although this was not statistically significant (A). After both lipid-lowering treatment regimens, VEGF levels further decreased (A). Serum SCF-sR levels were significantly reduced in subjects with the metabolic syndrome at baseline compared to controls and increased to control levels after both treatment regimens (B). Mean+SD pg or ng/mL. *P < 0.05 vs. controls. #P < 0.05 vs. baseline.
Westerweel PE et al. Eur Heart J 2008;29: