Which of the following are examples of statins?

• A. Atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin.
• B. Metformin, pioglitazone
• C. Lisinopril, losartan
• D. Amlodipine, nifedipine

Answer: (A)

Statins work by blocking HMG‑CoA reductase, the enzyme that kicks off cholesterol synthesis in the liver. By inhibiting this step, the liver makes less cholesterol, which lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood and can reduce cardiovascular risk. The drugs that fit this category and are listed are atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin.

The other medications listed are not statins: metformin and pioglitazone are used to treat type 2 diabetes; lisinopril and losartan are antihypertensives (an ACE inhibitor and an ARB, respectively); amlodipine and nifedipine are calcium channel blockers used for blood pressure and angina.