In the May 23, 2009 issue of The Lancet Journal, Kushwin Rajamani and co-workers report a further analysis of the FIELD trial of fenofibrate in patients with type 2 diabetes, which shows a large effect of treatment on the rate of minor amputations during the 5-year study. The anti-cholesterol drug fenofibrate appears to reduce risk of amputation for patients with diabetes by as much as 36 percent, the study has found.

A five year trial involving almost 10,000 diabetic patients in Australia showed that 115 patients had lower extremity amputations. The risk of first time amputations was 36 percent lower for patients given fenofibrate as compared with placebo.

The conclusion of the study was; “Treatment with fenofibrate was associated with a lower risk of amputations, particularly minor amputations.”

Fenofibrate helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. High levels of these types of fat in the blood are associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) that can delay or prevent wound healing in the patient with diabetes.

Fenofibrate is used to treat high cholesterol and high triglyceride levels. It is used in combination with a diet low in cholesterol and saturated fat. You should not use fenofibrate if you have: hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver; severe kidney disease; or gallbladder disease. The brand names for fenofibrate are: Antara, Fenoglide, Lipofen, Lofibra, TriCor, and Triglide.

-drhinkes