Post hoc analyses were conducted in the Statin Therapies for Elevated Lipid Levels Compared Across Doses to Rosuvastatin (STELLAR) trial, a 6 week trial that compared the effects of maximal doses of atorvastatin (80mg, n=136) and rosuvastatin (40mg, n=135) on plasma levels of small, dense LDL cholesterol and other lipoprotein subfractions. Both statins were found to significantly improve plasma levels of small, dense LDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, and non-HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Although the extent of these differences was similar between groups, rosuvastatin better improved levels of small, dense LDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The authors suggested that, independent of these results, either rosuvastatin or atorvastatin are more efficient than other statins such as simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin.