Folate supplementation prevents plasma homocysteine increase after fenofibrate therapy

BACKGROUND: Homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis. The administration of fibrates has been reported to significantly increase plasma homocysteine levels, a potentially adverse effect of fibrates. We investigated the hypothesis that concomitant treatment with fenofibrate and folic acid leads to a smaller increase in plasma total homocysteine levels than treatment with fenofibrate alone. METHODS: A randomized, open-label study compared the effect of micronized fenofibrate (200 mg daily) alone versus fenofibrate plus folic acid (10 mg every other day) on plasma homocysteine levels. Twenty-two patients with mixed hyperlipidemia participated. The 9-wk treatment period was preceded by a 4-wk wash-out period without hypolipidemic drugs. RESULTS: In patients treated with fenofibrate only, plasma homocyteine levels increased by 6.85 ± 5.23 μmol/L (from 12.27 ± 3.15 to 19.13 ± 7.20 μmol/L); in patients treated with fenofibrate and folic acid, plasma homocysteine levels increased by 2.01 ± 2.88 μmol/L (from 10.14 ± 2.32 to 12.15 ± 3.08 μmol/L). The difference in the homocysteine increase between the two groups was statistically significant at P = 0.014. CONCLUSIONS: Folic acid supplementation in patients treated with fenofibrate significantly reduced the increase in plasma homocysteine levels. More studies are needed to clarify whether amelioration of this side effect increases the clinical benefit of fibrates.