Fibrates

Fibrates are a group of medicines which include bezafibrate, fenofibrate and gemfibrozil.  They inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol and bile acids, and enhance the secretion of cholesterol in bile

• Their main effect is to reduce triglycerides by reducing the concentration of very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL): they also increase HDL-cholesterol and have variable effects on LDL-cholesterol. They are used mainly in patients with hypertriglyceridaemia.

• Fibrates have been shown to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease events in people with low HDL- cholesterol or with raised triglycerides.

Side effects common with fibrates include gastrointestinal complaints, and fibrates appear to increase the likelihood of developing cholesterol gallstones.

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