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Fenofibrate

Also indexed as: Lipantil, Supralip, Tricor

Illustration

Fenofibrate is used to lower elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels when diet, exercise, and weight loss programmes are ineffective. It is in a family of medications known as cholesterol-lowering 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.

Beneficial 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.

Folic acid

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B6

Vitamin C

Vitamin E
Beneficial May Be Beneficial: Supportive interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication work better.

Food
Depletion or interference

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 C and Vitamin E
A few studies have shown that fenofibrate enhances the toxic effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which might result in side effects such as skin rashes. One controlled study showed that taking 2 grams of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin E prior to ultraviolet exposure dramatically blocked UV-fenofibrate damage to red blood cells.1 though further controlled studies are needed, people taking fenofibrate should probably supplement with vitamins C and E until more information is available.

Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12
Increased blood levels of homocysteine are associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. One study revealed that fenofibrate dramatically increases blood homocysteine levels, though blood levels of vitamins were not reduced.2 In one study, supplementation with 10 mg per day of folic acid prevented the increase in homocysteine levels resulting from fenofibrate therapy.3 Further research is needed to determine whether supplemental  vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, which are also capable of lowering homocysteine levels, might lower fenofibrate-induced elevations in homocysteine levels.

Interactions with Foods and Other Compounds

Food
Taking fenofibrate together with food dramatically increases the absorption of the drug.4 Therefore fenofibrate should be taken with a meal.

References

1. Eberlein-Konig B, Placzek M, Przybilla B. Phototoxic lysis of erythrocytes from humans is reduced after oral intake of ascorbic acid and d-alpha-tocopherol. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed 1997;13:173–7.

2. Dierkes J, Westphal S, Luley C. Serum homocysteine increases after therapy with fenofibrate or bezafibrate. Lancet 1999;354:219–20.

3. Mayer O Jr, Simon J, Holubec L, et al. Fenofibrate-induced hyperhomocysteinemia may be prevented by folate co-administration. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2003;59:367–71.

4. Sifton DW, et. Physicians’ Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 476–8.