Background: High triglycerides (TG) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) are stronger predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women than in men, but few randomized, controlled clinical trials have investigated lipid-lowering interventions in women and none have reported results specifically in women with high TG and DM2. Icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) is pure prescription eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ethyl ester approved at 4 g/day as an adjunct to diet to reduce TG ≥500 mg/dL.
Methods: The 12-week ANCHOR trial randomized 702 statin-treated patients (73% with DM; 39% women) at increased CVD risk with TG 200-499 mg/dL despite controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; 40-99 mg/dL) to receive icosapent ethyl 2 g/day, 4 g/day, or placebo. This post hoc analysis included 146 women with DM2 (97% white, mean age 62 years) randomized to icosapent ethyl 4 g/day (n = 74) or placebo (n = 72).
Results: Icosapent ethyl significantly reduced TG (-21.5%; p < 0.0001) without increasing LDL-C and lowered other potentially atherogenic lipid/lipoprotein, apolipoprotein, and inflammatory parameters versus placebo. Icosapent ethyl increased EPA levels in plasma (+639%; p < 0.0001; n = 49) and red blood cells (+599%; p < 0.0001; n = 47) versus placebo. Safety and tolerability of icosapent ethyl were generally similar to placebo.
Conclusion: In women with DM2 at high CVD risk with persistently high TG on statins, icosapent ethyl 4 g/day reduced potentially atherogenic parameters with safety and tolerability comparable to placebo. Potential CVD benefits of icosapent ethyl are being tested in ∼8000 men and women at high CVD risk with high TG on statins in the ongoing Reduction of Cardiovascular Events with Icosapent Ethyl - Intervention Trial (REDUCE-IT) cardiovascular (CV) outcome trial.
Keywords: cardiovascular diseases; diabetes mellitus; eicosapentaenoic acid; hypertriglyceridemia; women's health.