Final answer:
Fibric acid derivatives, or fibrates, are medications used to treat dyslipidemia by activating receptors that regulate gene expression, leading to reduced triglyceride levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fibric acid derivatives, also known as fibrates, are a class of medications primarily used to treat dyslipidemia, a condition characterized by abnormal amounts of lipids in the blood. Fibrates function by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which in turn regulate gene expression and reduce the levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream. The most well-known fibrate is gemfibrozil, and these medications are particularly effective when triglyceride levels are markedly raised.
Treatment with fibrates is often part of a broader strategy to reduce cardiovascular risk, which includes dietary modification and potentially other lipid-lowering agents such as statins. However, the combination treatment of statins and fibrates increases the risk of myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, so it is typically managed with close supervision.
Fatty acids, which are the building blocks of fats, serve as the basis for fibric acid derivatives. They are usually unbranched carboxylic acids with an even number of carbon atoms, typically between 8 to 20 carbons.