Publication: Effectiveness of nicotinic acid and bezafibrate alone and in combination for reducing serum triglyceride level
Date
2005
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Objective: To study the effectiveness of nicotinic acid and Bezafibrate alone and in combination for reducing
triglyceride level.
Design: It was a randomised, prospective, longitudinal study.
Setting: Patients attending a private clinic, and medical department of Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal.
Methods: This study included 83 consecutive patients, 19 females and 64 males with hypertriglyceridaemia
(defined as serum triglyceride >200mg/dl) attending the department of medicine, Kathmandu Medical College,
Sinamangal and private clinic.
Main outcome measures: Statistically significant reduction of serum triglyceride level.
Result: 51 out of 83 patients completed the study in which Nicotinic acid alone reduced the serum trygleceride level
from 320.62 ± 104.23 to 182.55 ± 46.21, which is a reduction of 138.07 ± 85.69 (P. value = 001). Bezafibrate when
given alone also reduced triglyceride level significantly from 345.25 ± 181.03 to 203.30±93.59 which is a reduction
of 141.95 ± 121.130 (P value= .001). When a combination of both drugs was given the reduction of 472.73±247.53
(P value =.002) was achieved.
Conclusions: Nicotinic acid is a very effective drug in reducing serum triglyceride level and its effectiveness is
similar to Bezafibrate. There is no added benefit of giving a combination of nicotinic acid and Bezafibrate in
reducing serum triglyceride level.
Keywords: Hypertriglyceridaemia, Nicotinic acid, Bezafibrate.
Abbreviations: TG= Triglyceride, TC = Total cholesterol, HDL= High density lipoprotein, LDL= Low density
lipoprotein NCEP-ATP III= National Cholesterol Education Programme-Adult Treatment panel 111