Single daily oral dose of gemfibrozil reduces postprandial hyperlipidemia in hyperlipidemic patients

This study analyzed the effects of a single daily oral dose (900 mg) of gemfibrozil on fasting and postprandial Lipids in hyperlipidemic patients. In 13 patients with hypercholesterolemia or mixed hyperlipidemia, the intake of a single daily dose (900 mg) of gemfibrozil for 3 weeks reduced the plasma concentration of total cholesterol (15 +/- 7%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (9 +/- 18%), and triglycerides (TGs) (39 +/- 24%). During a vitamin A fat-loading test, TGs and retinyl palmitate (RP) responses were reduced significantly by gemfibrozil treatment, particularly in the chylomicron fraction. Plasma activity of hepatic lipase was increased significantly (9 +/- 12%) by gemfibrozil treatment. The association between the apolipoprotein E phenotype and the postprandial changes in TGs and RP was not significant. As with high doses, a single 900-mg dose of gemfibrozil is capable of reducing postprandial hyperlipidemia. This effect involves both enhanced clearance of TGs of exogenous origin and reduced synthesis of TGs of hepatic origin. A unique property of gemfibrozil is its capacity, even in a single, 900-mg dose, to increase the activity of hepatic lipase