(1) the effects of S 80 mg/ day + diet and simvastatin 40 mg/ day + diet relative to diet + placebo on VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, non HDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol; (2) the effects of simvastatin 80 mg/ day plus diet and simvastatin 40 mg/ day plus diet relative to diet plus placebo on LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and non HDL cholesterol, in a subgroup of patients with combined hyperlipidaemia and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM; type 2 diabetes mellitus); and (3) the safety and tolerability of simvastatin 80 mg/ day in patients with combined hyperlipidaemia.