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Updated: May 15, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
Statin and fibrate combination does not additionally lower plasma cholesteryl ester transfer in type 2 diabetes
Rindert de Vries1, Bert D Dikkeschei, Wim J Sluiter
1Department of Endocrinology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen 9700 RB, The Netherlands. r.p.f.dullaart@int.umcg.nl
Background:
Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer (CET) from high density lipoproteins (HDL) to very low and low density lipoproteins (VLDL+LDL) may predict (subclinical) atherosclerosis. We tested the extent to which plasma CET and cholesterol esterification (EST) are decreased by statin and fibrate combination therapy compared to statin and fibrate administration alone in type 2 diabetic patients.
Methods:
Plasma CET and EST were measured by isotope assays in 14 type 2 diabetic patients, in whom a randomized placebo-controlled crossover study was carried out (8 weeks treatment with simvastatin (40 mg daily), bezafibrate (400 mg daily) and their combination). Plasma CET and EST from diabetic patients were compared with 42 non-diabetic control subjects with similar triglyceride levels.
Results:
Plasma CET and EST were elevated in diabetic patients at baseline compared to control subjects (p < 0.01), and were correlated positively with non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides in non-diabetic subjects and in diabetic patients at baseline (p < 0.01). Decreases in CET during combined treatment (p < 0.05) were not greater than the changes during simvastatin and bezafibrate monotherapy (p > 0.20). EST only decreased during bezafibrate therapy (p < 0.05). Changes in CET during treatment were correlated positively with changes in non-HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05) and triglycerides (p < 0.001). Changes in HDL cholesterol were related inversely to changes in CET (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Diabetes-associated plasma CET elevations are ameliorated by statin and fibrate monotherapy, but combined lipid lowering drug treatment does not additively lower CET. CET lowering likely contributes to HDL cholesterol changes during statin and fibrate administration.
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