The objective of the present observer-blind, randomized, cross-over study was to investigate the impact of a single dose of fluva-statin 80 mg slow release vs. a single dose of atorvastatin 20 mg on arteriosclerotic nanoplaque formation (pat. EP 0946876). After a 4-week dietary run-in period, the VLDL/IDL/LDL plasma fracti-ons from 11 patients with dyslipoproteinaemia and type 2 diabe-tes showed beginning nanoplaque formation already at a normal blood Ca²⁺ concentration (2.52 mmol/l), with a strong increase at higher Ca²⁺ concentrations. Fluvastatin and atorvastatin markedly slowed down the process of ternary nanoplaque build-up at all Ca²⁺ concentrations used. The primary efficacy variable was the relative change of nanoplaque formation at a normal serum Ca²⁺ concentration. The mean relative change was 33.4% for fluvastatin 80 mg and 27.0% for atorvastatin 20 mg. The difference between the treatment groups was not significant. For all Ca²⁺ con-centrations, the mean reduction was more pronounced under fluva-statin. The differences were not significant using paired tests. The analysis with a linear mixed effects model quantified a more effec-tive reduction of plaque build-up under fluvastatin vs. atorvastatin by a factor of 1.846. This pilot study suggests a distinct effect be-tween fluvastatin and atorvastatin regarding quality and quantity of nanoplaque formation and describes a new pleiotropic effect.