Beneficial Effects of Fenofibrate to Improve Endothelial Dysfunction and Raise Adiponectin Levels in Patients With Primary Hypertriglyceridemia
- Kwang Kon Koh, MD, PHD, FACC, FAHA1,
- Seung Hwan Han, MD1,
- Michael J. Quon, MD, PHD3,
- Jeong Yeal Ahn, MD2 and
- Eak Kyun Shin, MD1
- 1Division of Cardiology, Gachon Medical School, Incheon, Korea
- 2Division of Laboratory Medicine, Gachon Medical School, Incheon, Korea
- 3Diabetes Unit, Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kwang Kon Koh, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA, Professor of Medicine, Director, Vascular Medicine and Atherosclerosis Unit, Division of Cardiology, Gil Heart Center, Gachon Medical School, 1198 Kuwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon, Korea 405-760. E-mail: kwangk{at}ghil.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—Improvement in endothelial function is predicted to improve insulin sensitivity, and this may be one mechanism by which fenofibrate decreases the incidence of coronary heart disease. We hypothesize fenofibrate improves endothelial function by enhancing insulin sensitivity.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We administered placebo or fenofibrate 200 mg daily for 8 weeks to 46 patients with primary hypertriglyceridemia (24 had metabolic syndrome). This study was randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, and crossover in design.
RESULTS—Compared with placebo, fenofibrate decreased total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and triglycerides and increased HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I (all P < 0.001) while tending to decrease LDL cholesterol (P = 0.069). Fenofibrate significantly improved percent flow-mediated dilator response to hyperemia by 48 ± 5% (P < 0.001) and lowered plasma levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) relative to baseline measurements from 0.80 to 0.70 mg/l (P = 0.001) and fibrinogen levels by 16 ± 3% (P < 0.001). Compared with placebo, fenofibrate therapy significantly increased plasma levels of adiponectin by 14 ± 5% (P = 0.008) and increased insulin sensitivity (assessed by quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [QUICKI]) by 6 ± 2% (P = 0.048). There were significant correlations between percent changes in adiponectin levels and percent changes in flow-mediated dilation (r = 0.401, P = 0.006), hsCRP (r = −0.443, P = 0.002), or QUICKI (r = 0.292, P = 0.049). Multivariate regression analysis showed that only changes in adiponectin levels persisted as an independent predictor of changes in flow-mediated dilation (r = 0.504, P = 0.013). Overall, we observed similar results in 24 patients with metabolic syndrome.
CONCLUSIONS—Fenofibrate therapy significantly improved percent flow-mediated dilator response to hyperemia, reduced inflammation marker levels, increased adiponectin levels, and improved insulin sensitivity in hypertriglyceridemic or metabolic syndrome patients.
- hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein
- PPAR, peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor
- QUICKI, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index
Footnotes
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A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
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- Accepted February 16, 2005.
- Received December 9, 2004.
- DIABETES CARE
