Fibrates, omega-3 and niacin trials

12 studies from 1987 to 2022, with 142,762 people taking part. Results: 4 fewer heart events or deaths, 8 no clear benefit. Every summary comes from the trial's PubMed abstract.

Fewer heart events or deaths
No clear benefit
Lipid or plaque goal met
Safety, side effects or genetics

1984 to 202612 studies, 142,762 people in trials

Circle size shows how many people took part. Tap a circle to open the trial; on a phone, swipe sideways for earlier years. The people count leaves out meta-analyses and genetic studies, which pool other studies.

All 12 studies

PROMINENT2022 · Pemafibrate · 10,497 people
In patients with type 2 diabetes, mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridemia, and low HDL/LDL cholesterol, pemafibrate lowered triglycerides and related lipid markers but did not reduce cardiovascular events compared with placebo and increased risks of renal events and venous thromboembolism.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinNot US-approved
STRENGTH2020 · Omega-3 carboxylic acids · 13,078 people
In statin-treated high-risk patients, adding high-dose omega-3 carboxylic acids to usual therapy did not reduce major adverse cardiovascular events compared with corn oil and caused more GI side effects.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinFDA-approved for TG (not marketed)
REDUCE-IT2019 · Icosapent ethyl · 8,179 people
In statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides, icosapent ethyl significantly reduced cardiovascular events including cardiovascular death, though at the cost of more atrial fibrillation hospitalizations and a trend toward more serious bleeding.
BenefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinUS-approved
VITAL2019 · Omega-3 (1 g) · 25,871 people
Daily supplementation with 1 g marine omega-3 fatty acids did not reduce the incidence of major cardiovascular events or invasive cancer compared with placebo, though it was safe and reduced total myocardial infarction as a secondary finding.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinOTC supplement / Rx omega-3 ethyl esters
ASCEND2018 · Omega-3 (1 g) · 15,480 people
In diabetic patients without known cardiovascular disease, daily 1-g omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did not reduce serious vascular events compared with placebo.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinOTC supplement / Rx omega-3 ethyl esters
HPS2-THRIVE2014 · Niacin/laropiprant · 25,673 people
Adding extended-release niacin-laropiprant to statin therapy in patients with vascular disease did not reduce major vascular events and increased serious adverse effects, including new-onset diabetes, infection, and bleeding.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinNot available in US
AIM-HIGH2011 · Extended-release niacin · 3,414 people
In statin-treated patients with established cardiovascular disease and already-low LDL, adding extended-release niacin raised HDL and lowered triglycerides but did not reduce cardiovascular events compared with placebo.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinUS-approved
ACCORD Lipid2010 · Fenofibrate + simvastatin · 5,518 people
Adding fenofibrate to simvastatin did not reduce cardiovascular events or death compared with simvastatin alone in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes, so routine combination therapy is not supported.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinUS-approved
JELIS2007 · EPA · 18,645 people
Adding EPA to statin therapy modestly reduced major coronary events, mainly non-fatal events, in hypercholesterolaemic Japanese patients, without a significant effect on sudden cardiac or coronary death.
BenefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinNot US-approved (Japan)
FIELD2005 · Fenofibrate · 9,795 people
In patients with type 2 diabetes not on statins, fenofibrate did not significantly reduce coronary events but did reduce total cardiovascular events, driven by fewer nonfatal heart attacks and revascularizations, with a small increase in pancreatitis and pulmonary embolism.
No significant benefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinUS-approved
VA-HIT1999 · Gemfibrozil · 2,531 people
In men with coronary heart disease and low HDL cholesterol but not high LDL, gemfibrozil reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events despite not lowering LDL cholesterol.
BenefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinUS-approved
Helsinki Heart Study1987 · Gemfibrozil · 4,081 people
In middle-aged men with dyslipidemia, gemfibrozil raised HDL and lowered non-HDL cholesterol and significantly reduced coronary heart disease incidence over five years without affecting total mortality or cancer rates.
BenefitFibrates, omega-3 and niacinUS-approved

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Search and filter all 106 studies in the trial database. Education only, not medical advice.

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