Etofibrate but not controlled-release niacin decreases LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) in type IIb dyslipidemic subjects.
Etofibrate is a hybrid drug which combines niacin with clofibrate. After contact with plasma hydrolases, both constituents are gradually released in a controlled-release manner. In this study, we compared the effects of etofibrate and controlled-release niacin on lipid profile and plasma lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) levels of patients with triglyceride levels of 200 to 400 mg/dl, total cholesterol above 240 mg/dl and Lp(a) above 40 mg/dl. These patients were randomly assigned to a double-blind 16-week treatment period with etofibrate (500 mg twice daily, N = 14) or niacin (500 mg twice daily, N = 11). In both treatment groups total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides were equally reduced and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased. Etofibrate, but not niacin, reduced Lp(a) by 26% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 23%. The hybrid compound etofibrate produced a more effective reduction in plasma LDL cholesterol and Lp(a) levels than controlled-release niacin in type IIb dyslipidemic subjects.
Sposito
A C
AC
Divisão de Coronária, Instituto do Coração, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Mansur
A P
AP
Maranhão
R C
RC
Rodrigues-Sobrinho
C R
CR
Coelho
O R
OR
Ramires
J A
JA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D002995:Clofibric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D014280:Triglycerides; C009746:etofibrate; D009525:Niacin; D002995:Clofibric Acid