Diurnal lipid and lipoprotein profiles in hypertriglyceridemic patients with bezafibrate and clofibrate

Thirty hypertriglyceridemic patients were treated under metabolic ward conditions for 10 days with either placebo, clofibrate (500 mg t.i.d.) or bezafibrate (200 mg t.i.d.) in a randomized, double-blind study. In addition, patients received an isocaloric prudent diet. On day 10 a diurnal lipid and lipoprotein profile was carried out. Compliance to medication was good. Each treatment led to significant reductions of fasting triglycerides and cholesterol. Lowering of fasting and integrated diurnal triglycerides was greatest with bezafibrate. HDL-cholesterol profiles were highest with this drug. A strong correlation between fasting and diurnal triglycerides was observed. Triglyceride-lowering therapy must therefore aim at fasting triglyceride values as low as possible.