Effect of micronized fenofibrate on microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Micronized fenofibrate prevents the progression of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes, but no systematic review has summarized these effects. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to investigate the effects of micronized fenofibrate on type 2 diabetes-related microvascular complications.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The PubMed database was systematically searched for trials in English language published between January 1990 and November 2015 that examined the effects of fenofibrate on microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS: Thirteen trials of the 290 clinical studies reviewed met the inclusion criteria. Fenofibrate significantly slowed the progression of early diabetic retinopathy by 30 to 40% within 4 to 5 years in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-existing retinopathy at baseline. Fenofibrate also consistently reduced the progression of urinary albumin excretion in the trials studied. One large study demonstrated a significant effect (47% reduction) of the drug on diabetes-related minor amputations.

CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence supports the adjunctive early use of fenofibrate in type 2 diabetes mellitus for the prevention of microvascular complications, particularly in individuals presenting with the first signs of the complication and during the initial stages of the disease.