Research
Hormonal
Targeting HDL-C and Triglycerides with non-statin drugs (niacin, fibrates) added to statins does not provide additional cardiovascular benefit compared to statin therapy alone in most cases.
If you are already taking a statin, adding niacin or fibrates to fix your HDL or triglycerides usually does not provide extra protection against heart attacks. Stick to your statin and lifestyle changes, as these are the most proven strategies.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
Benefits of treatment of high triglycerides and low levels of HDL cholesterol after reaching optimal treatment status with statins is unclear. ... data from two trials where niacin was added to statins, Aim High [59] and HPS2-THRIVE (not yet published), and one in which fenofibrate was added to statin therapy, ACCORD [60], indicate no overall benefit compared to patients treated with statins alone.
Why this rating
Based on large, negative RCTs (Aim High, HPS2-THRIVE, ACCORD).
Source
Lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, hypolipidemic agents, and therapeutic goals
Gissette Reyes‐Soffer et al. · 2015
DOI 10.1002/9781118387658.ch17
book_chapter
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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- Statins are the first-line pharmacologic therapy for lowering LDL-C and reducing cardiovascular events in patients with Type 2 Diabetes, regardless of baseline cholesterol levels.Strong
- Lifestyle interventions (weight loss, diet, exercise) are key to treating diabetic dyslipidemia and can significantly reduce the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in prediabetic individuals.Strong
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