Introduction: Although both statins and fibrates have been found to reduce monocyte cytokine release, no study has investigated whether the effect of hypolipidaemic agents depends on age.

Material and methods: This study retrospectively analysed the results of 65 patients with type 2 diabetes and atherogenic dyslipidaemia, complying with lifestyle intervention, and receiving metformin. These patients were then treated with simvastatin (40 mg daily), micronized fenofibrate (200 mg daily), or simvastatin plus fenofibrate. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), inteleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) release, as well as circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), were determined separately for patients aged between 20 and 50 years and between 51 and 75 years before the study and after 12 weeks of hypolipidaemic treatment.

Results: Older adults were characterised by higher monocyte release of TNF-alpha and interleukin-6, as well as higher circulating levels of hsCRP, than the younger subjects. The decrease in monocyte release of all investigated cytokines and in plasma hsCRP was similar in both age groups. In turn, the effect of fenofibrate, alone or in combination with simvastatin, on TNF-alpha, interleukin-6, and hsCRP, but not on interleukin-1beta and MCP-1, was stronger in patients aged between 50 and 75 years, and correlated with an improvement in insulin sensitivity only in this age group.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that age may partially determine monocyte-suppressing and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of fenofibrate. (Endokrynol Pol 2016; 67 (2): 190–196)