Abstract
Low density lipoprotein (LDL-) particles can be subfractionated in large-buoyant (lb),
intermediate-dense (id) and small-dense (sd) LDL-subtypes. Fibrates improve the LDL-subtype
profile by reducing proatherogenic sd-LDL which are prominent in diabetic dyslipoproteinemia.
We evaluated the effect of etofibrate on the LDL-subtype distribution in patients
with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 13, 55 ± 18 years, BMI 27.9 ± 5.5 kg/m², HbA1c
10.1 ± 3.9 %) and diabetic dyslipoproteinemia (triglycerides 343 ± 253 mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol
36 ± 7 mg/dl, LDL-cholesterol 110 ± 37 mg/dl).
Plasma lipids (enzymatic methods) and LDL-subtypes (7 LDL-subfractions, density gradient
ultracentrifugation) were measured before and during etofibrate therapy (500 mg/d,
7 - 16 weeks). Etofibrate significantly (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon-test) reduced triglycerides
(- 31 ± 60 %) and increased HDL-cholesterol (+ 24 ± 22 %), whereas total cholesterol
and LDL-cholesterol did not change. Cholesterol concentration decreased in sd-LDL
by 12 % (p < 0.05), while it increased in id- and lb-LDL (+ 26 %,+ 39 %, respectively).
Thus, the LDL-subtype profile showed a relative increase of the fraction of lb- (+
13 ± 32 %, n.s.) and id-LDL (+ 23 ± 33 %, p < 0.05) and a relative decrease of the
fraction of sd-LDL (- 19 ± 18 %, p < 0.05).
We conclude that etofibrate not only decreases triglycerides and increases HDL-cholesterol
but also improves the LDL-subtype profile and thus may reduce the cardiovascular risk
in patients with an abundance of sd-LDL such as diabetic patients.
Key words
Diabetes mellitus - diabetic dyslipoproteinemia - diabetic dyslipidemia - LDL-subfractions
- LDL-subtypes - small dense LDL - etofibrate - fibrate
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M. D. Klaus G. Parhofer
Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Grosshadern
Marchioninistr. 15
81377 Munich
Germany
Phone: + 498970953011
Fax: + 49 89 70 95 88 79
Email: parhofer@med2.med.uni-muenchen.de
