Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Resource.

The first choice of medication for treating elevated triglyceride levels is fenofibrate. Fenofibrate works primarily by increasing the activity of lipoprotein lipase, which helps break down triglycerides, resulting in a reduction of their levels in the bloodstream. It is specifically indicated for patients with very high triglyceride levels or those at risk for pancreatitis as a result of these elevated triglyceride levels.

The medication is often part of a comprehensive approach that includes lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise. Fenofibrate is particularly effective in patients with mixed dyslipidemia, as it can also contribute to lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol.

While other medications listed have roles in dyslipidemia management, they do not primarily focus on triglyceride reduction or are not first-line treatments for this specific purpose. For instance, sitagliptin is used for diabetes management, rosuvastatin is a statin that primarily lowers LDL cholesterol, and niacin has mixed effects and is not routinely recommended for triglyceride management in the current guidelines.