The Effect of Fenofibrate on the Levels of High Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein in Dyslipidemic Obese Patients

Abstract

It is now well documented that obesity is associated with a chronic low‐grade inflammatory state. Levels of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, a marker of systemic inflammation and a mediator of atherothrombotic disease, have been shown to correlate with cardiovascular disease risk. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of fenofibrate on the levels of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein in dyslipidemic obese patients. We selected 30 dyslipidemic obese patients (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) and 20 normolipidemic, nonobese healthy subjects. Dyslipidemic obese patients were treated with fenofibrate 200 mg/day for 3 months. Serum high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and metabolic parameters were evaluated at baseline in both groups and after fenofibrate treatment in dyslipidemic obese patients. At baseline, significantly higher high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein levels were found in dyslipidemic obese patients than normal subjects (0.58 ± 0.3 vs 0.14 ± 0.1 mg/dL, P < 0.01). Total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, and P < 0.01, respectively), and levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased (P < 0.05) after treatment with fenofibrate in the dyslipidemic obese group. Levels of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein decreased significantly (approximately 74.1%) after fenofibrate treatment from a mean of 0.58 ± 0.3 mg/dL to 0.15 ± 0.2 mg/dL, P < 0.01. Our findings suggest that fenofibrate may be used as a first‐line therapy for improving the plasma lipids profile, as well as the chronic low‐grade inflammatory state in dyslipidemia and obesity.

• Fenofibrate
• C‐reactive protein
• Obesity
• Anti‐inflammatory effect