The Mechanism of Action of Clofibrate and Tetranicotinoylfructose (Bradilan) on the Kinetics of Plasma Free Fatty Acid and Triglyceride Transport in Type IV und Type V Hypertriglyceridaemia

Abstract. The kinetics of plasma free fatty acid and triglyceride transport were assessed in 20 patients with idiopathic hypertriglyceridaemia. These patients were subdivided according to lipoprotein pattern into Type IV and Type V patients. The effects of clofibrate therapy on plasma free fatty acid and triglyceride kinetics were assessed in these patients. Clofibrate produced a marked reduction in serum triglyceride associated with a significant reduction in triglyceride turnover as well as enhancement of triglyceride clearance. The reduction in triglyceride concentration produced by clofibrate was found to correlate with the reduction in free fatty acid turnover indicating that this drug decreased the availability of free fatty acid turnover indicating that this drug decreased the availability of free fatty acids for hepatic esterification. Clearance of endogenous plasma triglyceride was markedly enhanced in those patients in whom it was markedly impaired before treatment. – Having discontinued clofibrate for six weeks the same patients received bradilan (tetranicotinoylfructose) and kinetic measurements were repeated. It was evident that bradilan had a greater hypotriglyceridaemic effect than clofibrate in both groups of patients. The effect of bradilan was the result of inhibition of free fatty acid turnover and consequently a marked reduction in triglyceride turnover. Bradilan, unlike clofibrate, did not affect the mechanisms responsible for the clearance of plasma triglycerides.