Effect of fenofibrate on plasma apolipoprotein C-III levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials

Objectives: This meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled clinical trials aimed to assess the effect of fenofibrate on apolipoprotein C-III (apo C-III), a key regulator of triglyceride metabolism.

Materials and methods: Randomised placebo-controlled trials investigating the impact of fenofibrate treatment on apo C-III levels were searched in PubMed-Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases from inception to 18 August 2017. Quantitative data synthesis was determined by a random-effects model and generic inverse variance method. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the leave-one-out method. A weighted random-effects meta-regression was performed to evaluate glycaemic parameter confounders.

Results: Meta-analysis of 10 clinical trials involving 477 subjects showed fenofibrate therapy decreased apo C-III levels (weighted mean difference (WMD) -4.78 mg/dL, 95% CI -6.95 to -2.61, p<0.001; I²66.87%). Subgroup analysis showed that fenofibrate reduced plasma apo C-III concentrations in subgroups of trials with treatment durations of either <12 weeks (WMD -4.50 mg/dL, p=0.001) or ≥12 weeks (WMD: -4.73 mg/dL, p=0.009) and doses of fenofibrate <200 mg/day (WMD -6.33 mg/dL, p<0.001) and >200 mg/day (p=0.006), with no significant difference between the subgroups.

Conclusion: This meta-analysis found that fenofibrate therapy significantly decreases apo C-III levels, an effect evident with both short-term treatment and doses less than 200 mg/day.