JPRN‐UMIN000002964.

Methods	Parallel randomised study
Participants	Inclusion criteria: dyslipidaemic patients under treatment with fibrates, whose LDL‐C levels do not meet those recommended by Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines for prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease; patients who have aortic atherosclerotic plaques detected by MRI; outpatients; participants who gave written informed consent; age: 20‐80 years‐old. Exclusion criteria: allergy against ezetimibe; under treatment with statins; poorly‐controlled hypertension (DBP >110 mmHg); poorly‐controlled diabetes (HbA1c>10.0 %); history of stroke, acute coronary syndrome or any cardiovascular diseases needed for inpatient‐treatments within 6 months; either level of AST or ALT exceeds three‐fold of the normal limits; chronic renal failure (serum creatinine>2.0 mg/dl); malignancies or other diseases with poor prognosis; pregnant; participants whose doctor in charge did not agree to join the trial.
Interventions	Fibrate monotherapy versus fibrate‐ezetimibe combination
Outcomes	Area of atherosclerotic plaques in aorta detected by MRI, 12/24 months after randomisation Serum lipids (total/LDL/HDL‐cholesterol, triglycerides), 6/12/24 months after randomisation Flow‐mediated vasodilation in forearm, 6 months after randomisation Heparin‐releasable extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC‐SOD) levels, 6 months after randomisation Markers indicating obesity (e.g. adiponectin), inflammation (high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein), oxidative stress, early‐staged kidney diseases (microalbuminuria), 6/12/24 months after randomisation
Notes	Date of registration: 03/01/2010 Recruitment status: Terminated Location: Japan Contact information: Katsunori Ikewaki; katsunorike@ndmc.ac.jp Expected completion date: unknown Contacted trialists to ask about status and anticipated completion date, but no response.