An antilipemic agent which lowers cholesterol, triglycerides, serum beta-lipoproteins and phospholipids. It acts by interfering with the enzymatic steps involved in the conversion of acetate to hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A as well as inhibiting the activity of HYDROXYMETHYLGLUTARYL COA REDUCTASES which is the rate limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. [PubChem]
A dicarboxylic acid that is glutaric acid in which one of the two hydrogens at position 3 is substituted by a hydroxy group, while the other is substituted by a methyl group. It has been found to accumulate in urine of patients suffering from HMG-CoA lyase (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase, EC 4.1.3.4) deficiency. It occurs as a plant metabolite in Crotalaria dura.