title: Ezetimibe ameliorates atherogenic lipids profiles, insulin resistance and hepatocyte growth factor in obese patients with hypercholesterolemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ezetimibe ameliorates serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and it has been approved for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. However, the effects of ezetimibe on specific biomarkers have not been fully clarified in obese Japanese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 101 patients (47 males and 54 females) were registered in this study during 2011 and 2012. All patients were over 20 years old, were obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m(2)] and had hypercholesterolemia (LDL-c ≥ 120 mg/dl). After excluding 10 subjects (7 who dropped out and 3 with missing data), 91 patients (39 males and 52 females) were analyzed. They were treated with 10 mg ezetimibe once a day for 24 weeks and were evaluated at 12 and 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following 12 weeks of ezetimibe therapy, BMI (p < 0.001), waist circumference (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), LDL-c (p < 0.001), non high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c] (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.05) and remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-c; p < 0.001) were significantly decreased. Following 24 weeks of ezetimibe therapy, BMI (p < 0.05), waist circumference (p < 0.001), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), LDL-c (p < 0.001), non HDL-c (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.05), RLP-c (p < 0.001), insulin (p < 0.05) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF; p < 0.05) were significantly decreased. In contrast, HDL-c (p < 0.001) was significantly increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ezetimibe ameliorated not only atherogenic lipid profiles but also anthropometric factors, insulin resistance and biomarkers such as HGF. Ezetimibe may have pleiotropic effects on obese patients with hypercholesterolemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, 830-0011, Japan. hadac@med.kurume-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.affiliation: Nakano Medical Clinic, Chikugo, Japan. naka1024@mx2.tiki.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.affiliation: Yamamoto Clinic, Chikugo, Japan. k-mount.book.1220@s4.dion.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Kiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Nakata Clinic, Kurume, Japan. mail@nakataclinic.jp.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakata
authors.affiliation: Bekki Clinic, Yame, Japan. bekky@mx71.tiki.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Hisatoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bekki
authors.affiliation: Honma Clinic, Kurume, Japan. honma-hp@gamma.ocn.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Honma
authors.affiliation: Yoshiyama Medical Clinic, Chikugo, Japan. dr-yoshiyama-cli@kde.biglobe.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshiyama
authors.affiliation: Nohara Clinic, Kurume, Japan. m-nohara@tsm.bbiq.jp.
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nohara
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000069438:Ezetimibe / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C066855:HGF protein, human; D008055:Lipids; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D000069438:Ezetimibe