Effects of benfluorex on patients with endogenous hypertriglyceridaemia

Twenty-two patients showing persistent endogenous hypertriglyceridaemia after an individually designed diet for 1 month were randomly divided into two groups. Each was treated during two crossover consecutive 40-day periods, either starting with benfluorex (450 mg/day) or with placebo. They were followed as out-patients and were investigated at the start of the study, and at the end of each treatment period. A number of laboratory measurements were undertaken at each visit, including triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid, fatty acids, and glucose and insulin after an oral glucose tolerance test. The results showed a significant (p less than 0.01) reduction in triglyceride blood levels of 32.7% after benfluorex treatment compared to 11.7% with placebo, irrespective of the treatment order. Other laboratory measurements were in the normal range, and there were no significant changes, except for uric acid which showed a small decrease but of little clinical significance. Benfluorex would appear to have an important therapeutic effect on endogenous hypertriglyceridaemia.