Effect of gemfibrozil on serum levels of prostacyclin and precursor fatty acids in hyperlipidemic patients with type 2 diabetes

Lipid-lowering fibrate drugs are known to affect the synthesis of fatty acids, which may alter the prostacyclin synthesis in diabetic patients. Therefore, the serum levels of precursor fatty acids and 6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha (6-keto PGF(1 alpha)) were determined in ten hyperlipidemic patients with Type 2 diabetes before and after administration of gemfibrozil (900 mg/day) for 3 months, in comparison with the results in seven non-diabetic hyperlipidemic patients. Gemfibrozil significantly reduced the serum concentration of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid, total cholesterol and triglycerides, but did not affect the serum levels of arachidonic acid and 6-keto PGF(1 alpha) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Thus, gemfibrozil did not affect the synthesis of prostacyclin in spite of the reduction of precursor fatty acids in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.