title: Fenofibrate protects lipoproteins from lipid peroxidation: synergistic interaction with alpha-tocopherol.
abstract: One of the earliest steps of atherosclerotic plaque formation is an increase of circulating apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins which, after infiltrating the subendothelial space, undergo oxidative modification. Fenofibrate is an effective cholesterol- and triglyceride-lowering agent which has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Vitamin E, or alpha-tocopherol, is a powerful antioxidant which has been shown in a variety of studies to prevent lipoprotein peroxidation. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of fenofibrate treatment, either alone or in combination with alpha-tocopherol, in reducing the susceptibility of lipoproteins to oxidative modification. Rats fed a normal diet were treated for up to 27 d with fenofibrate, either alone or in combination with equimolar doses of alpha-tocopherol. Combined VLDL (very low density lipoproteins) and LDL (low density lipoproteins) isolated after fenofibrate treatment were more resistant to copper-mediated oxidation, as assessed by conjugated diene formation. Lag time was prolonged up to 3.2-fold, while the maximal rate of diene production was significantly decreased by up to 2.2-fold. Treatment of rats with alpha-tocopherol alone at the selected dose had no significant effect on lag time, while the propagation rate was slightly decreased. Coadministration of fenofibrate with alpha-tocopherol prolonged the lag phase to a greater extent than fenofibrate alone, showing a synergistic interaction between the two compounds. Finally, the combination of fenofibrate and alpha-tocopherol was significantly more effective in modifying lipoprotein oxidation parameters than what was observed with alpha-tocopherol and bezafibrate or gemfibrozil. Thus, in addition to its well-established effects on lipoprotein concentrations and atherogenic parameters, fenofibrate reduces the susceptibility of VLDL and LDL to oxidative modification and exerts its action synergistically with alpha-tocopherol.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoires Fournier, Department of Atherosclerosis, Daix, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chaput
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maubrou-Sanchez
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Bellamy
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Edgar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001629:Bezafibrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015248:Gemfibrozil / Q000494:pharmacology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D014810:Vitamin E; D015248:Gemfibrozil; D011345:Fenofibrate; D001629:Bezafibrate