Fibric acid derivatives

Fibric acid derivatives or fibrates are regarded as broad-spectrum lipid lowering drugs. Their main action is to decrease triglyceride levels but they also tend to reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and help to raise high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Fibrates appear to activate a protein called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-alpha). PPAR-alpha activates the enzyme lipoprotein lipase and ultimately results in decreased formation of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (which is converted into LDL cholesterol) and triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol.