Clofibrate

Also indexed as: Atromid-S

Clofibrate is a drug used to lower cholesterol in people with high blood cholesterol. It is rarely used, due to the possibility of liver damage and the availability of safer, more effective drugs.

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, a herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized interactions.

May Be Beneficial: Depletion or interference—The medication may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the nutrient. Taking these nutrients may help replenish them.	Vitamin B12*
May Be Beneficial: Side effect reduction/prevention—Taking these supplements may help reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the medication.	Milk thistle*
Supportive interaction	None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	None known
Adverse interaction	None known

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Vitamin B12
Clofibrate has been reported to reduce absorption of vitamin B12.¹

Interactions with Herbs

Milk thistle (Silibum marianum)
Although there have been no clinical studies, use of milk thistle with clofibrate may theoretically lower the risk of liver side effects associated with the drug. People may take a standardised milk thistle extract supplying 70–80% silymarin at an amount of 200 mg three times per day.

References

1. Robinson C, Weigly E. Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy. New York: Macmillan, 1984, 46–54.

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The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires August 2007.