Analysis of 6-month effect of orlistat administration, alone or in combination with fenofibrate, on triglyceride-rich lipoprotein metabolism in overweight and obese patients with metabolic syndrome.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Orlistat significantly reduced serum triglycerides (TG) in most clinical trials. Orlistat-induced TG reduction has not been studied to determine the factors contributing to TG alterations in clinical settings.

OBJECTIVE:

We examined the factors influencing TG reduction during orlistat administration, alone or in combination with fenofibrate, and we investigated the effects of these treatments on apolipoprotein C-II (ApoC-II) and C-III (ApoC-III) levels.

METHODS:

Patients with the metabolic syndrome were randomly allocated to receive orlistat 120 mg three times daily (n = 28, O group), micronized fenofibrate 200 mg/day (n = 28, F group), or both (n = 27, OF group) for 6 months. Plasma ApoC-II and ApoC-III were determined by an immunoturbidimetric assay.

RESULTS:

In the O group, we observed reductions of plasma ApoC-III (P < 0.05) and ApoC-II (P = NS) levels. Fenofibrate administration significantly reduced concentrations of ApoC-II and ApoC-III, whereas the combination of orlistat and fenofibrate had an additive effect on these apolipoproteins. There were significant in-group reductions in serum TG levels in all treatment groups. Multivariate analysis showed that in O group's baseline TG levels were independently positively correlated, whereas the baseline ApoC-II levels were negatively correlated with TG-lowering. In the F group, baseline TG levels and ApoC-III reduction were significantly and independently correlated with TG reduction. OF group's baseline TG levels and ApoC-III reduction were independently positively correlated and baseline ApoC-II levels were negatively correlated with TG-lowering.

CONCLUSIONS:

Orlistat-mediated TG-lowering is independently associated with baseline TG and ApoC-II levels. When orlistat is combined with fenofibrate, ApoC-III reduction is another independent contributor to TG alterations.

• Authors: Theodosios D Filippatos, Vasilis Tsimihodimos, Michael Kostapanos, Christina Kostara, Eleni T Bairaktari, Dimitrios N Kiortsis, Moses S Elisaf
• Journal: Journal of clinical lipidology (J Clin Lipidol) Vol. 2 Issue 4 Pg. 279-84 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 1933-2874 [Print] United States
• PMID: 21291744 (Publication Type: Journal Article)