Effectiveness of nicotinic acid and bezafibrate alone and in combination for reducing serum triglyceride level.

OBJECTIVE

To study the effectiveness of nicotinic acid and Bezafibrate alone and in combination for reducing triglyceride level.

DESIGN

It was a randomised, prospective, longitudinal study.

SETTING

Patients attending a private clinic, and medical department of Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal.

METHODS

This study included 83 consecutive patients, 19 females and 64 males with hypertriglyceridaemia (defined as serum triglyceride >200mg/dl) attending the department of medicine, Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal and private clinic.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Statistically significant reduction of serum triglyceride level.

RESULT

51 out of 83 patients completed the study in which Nicotinic acid alone reduced the serum trygleceride level from 320.62 +/- 104.23 to 182.55 +/- 46.21, which is a reduction of 138.07 +/- 85.69 (P. value = 001). Bezafibrate when given alone also reduced triglyceride level significantly from 345.25 +/- 181.03 to 203.30+/-93.59 which is a reduction of 141.95 +/- 121.130 (P value= .001). When a combination of both drugs was given the reduction of 472.73+/-247.53 (P value =.002) was achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

Nicotinic acid is a very effective drug in reducing serum triglyceride level and its effectiveness is similar to Bezafibrate. There is no added benefit of giving a combination of nicotinic acid and Bezafibrate in reducing serum triglyceride level.