Combination Lipid Therapy on Lipid Profiles in Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance

Objective: This study compared the effects of combination statin and fibrate therapy with either statin or fibrate monotherapy on lipid profiles in patients with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and a high risk for cardiovascular disease. Methods & Patients: Forty-five patients with IGT and dyslipidemia (men 25, women 20, mean age 61.7 ± 2.4 yrs) were assigned randomly to the 3 treatment groups for a 6-month period. Results: After 6 months of treatment, low density lipoprotein levels decreased in every group, especially the statin and statin + fibrate groups. Triglyceride levels also decreased in all three groups, especially the fibrate and statin + fibrate groups. High density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels did not change in any group. The levels of remnant like cholesterol particles decreased in the fibrate and statin + fibrate groups. There was no change during the study in the levels of creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, or creatinine. Conclusion: Combination statin and fibrate therapy results in greater improvement in lipid profiles than monotherapy with either drug. No marked adverse effects were observed with combination therapy during the study.