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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
08:42
Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
Published on: November 27, 2016
Rediscovering bile acid sequestrants
1Southside Endocrinology and University of Alabama Medical School-Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism
|October 1, 2009
Summary
Adding colesevelam to statin therapy may reduce cardiovascular events and prevent new-onset diabetes. This bile acid sequestrant offers lipid-lowering and glucose-lowering benefits, particularly for diabetic patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Statins, like rosuvastatin, effectively reduce cardiovascular events but may increase type 2 diabetes risk.
- This increased diabetes risk is consistent with meta-analyses on statin use.
- The bile acid sequestrant colesevelam is approved for diabetes therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if adding a bile acid sequestrant to statin therapy can further decrease lipid levels and cardiovascular events.
- To determine if this combination therapy can protect against the development of diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Hypothesized that combining a bile acid sequestrant with a statin would yield additional benefits.
- Considered the known glucose-lowering and lipid-lowering effects of bile acid sequestrants.
Main Results:
- Colesevelam enhances statin therapy by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by 16% and C-reactive protein (CRP) by 22%.
- Bile acid sequestrants provide lipid-lowering, glucose-lowering, and anti-inflammatory effects.
- These agents have demonstrated a reduction in cardiovascular event risk.
Conclusions:
- Colesevelam is a logical addition to statin therapy for diabetic and insulin-resistant patients.
- It may prevent diabetes development and improve glycemic control in established diabetics.
- The combination therapy offers dual benefits of reducing cardiac risk and managing diabetes.
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