What is a common action of fibrates on lipid levels?

Fibrates are a class of lipid-lowering agents primarily used to manage hyperlipidemia, particularly to lower triglyceride levels and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The main mechanism of action for fibrates involves activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), particularly PPAR-alpha. This activation leads to increased oxidation of fatty acids in the liver and muscle, which in turn results in reduced triglyceride levels.

The reduction in triglycerides is significant because elevated triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. By lowering these levels, fibrates can help to decrease this risk.

In contrast to their effect on triglycerides, fibrates have a less pronounced and variable effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and they generally do not lower HDL levels. In fact, they can sometimes increase HDL cholesterol. Additionally, fibrates do not enhance cholesterol absorption, which is typically a function of other medications, such as bile acid sequestrants or ezetimibe. Thus, the action of fibrates is specifically focused on lowering triglyceride levels, making this the correct answer.