Effect of Al-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate (Alufibrate) on pyruvate metabolism and on the fate of very low density lipoprotein lipids in hyperlipidemic patients

he exhalation of total CO₂ and ¹⁴ CQ₂ after an intravenous injection of either [1-¹⁴C]- or [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate was measured in six male patients with type IV hyperlipidemia who had previously been receiving treatment with alufibrate or placebo. Considerably more ¹⁴ CO₂ was exhaled after the injection of [1-¹⁴C]pyruvate than after the injection of [2-¹⁴C] pyruvate. Treatment with alufibrate only slightly diminished the oxidation of [1-¹⁴C]-pyruvate, but increased the oxidation of [2-¹⁴C] pyruvate to ¹⁴CO₂ by 25%. The total concentrations of [2-¹⁴C] pyruvate and its incorporation into the lipids of lipoprotein fractions were measured over 24 h. Alufibrate treatment decreased the serum concentration of VLDL by 53%, by reducing the turnover rate by 25% and increasing the net removal rate by about 30%. No effects on LDL and HDL lipid fractions were detected.