Fenofibrate isn’t the answer for heart health in people with type 2 diabetes, a five-year study shows. The drug, sold under brand names including Tricor, Lofibra, and Trilipix, can indeed lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels. But it doesn’t slow atherosclerosis—the gumming up of arteries that can lead to a heart attack—in people with type 2, according to data from the study. The researchers suggest that in people with type 2, fenofibrate be prescribed only for those with very high triglycerides. In contrast, statin drugs have been shown to slow atherosclerosis and prevent heart attacks in people with diabetes.
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Dec. 16/23, 2008