Pharmacological investigation of bezafibrate, a hypolipidemic agent. (1). Effects of bezafibrate on normal and experimental hyperlipidemia in rats.

The hypolipidemic effects of bezafibrate were examined in normal rats and an experimentally induced hyperlipidemic model of rats. Oral administration of bezafibrate at 1 mg/kg/day or more to normal rats for 7 days significantly decreased serum triglyceride (TG) and at 3 mg/kg/day or more for 7 days caused significant reduction of serum total cholesterol (TC). A single oral dose of 100 mg/kg of bezafibrate significantly inhibited the increase of serum TC and TG in hyperlipidemic rats induced by Triton WR-1339. When normal rats were given 75% fructose solution for 7 days, serum TG increased in concentration about four times. Oral administration of bezafibrate for 7 days at 1 mg/kg/day or more inhibited the increase of serum TG in this model. Serum TC increased in concentration about twice in 1% cholesterol diet-fed rats for 8 weeks. Oral administration of bezafibrate at 30 mg/kg/day or more inhibited the increase of serum TC. These results suggest that bezafibrate is effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.