fibric

Fibric is an adjective with several uses in different scientific contexts. It is derived from fiber and generally means relating to fibers or having a fibrous texture. In everyday usage the term is uncommon outside technical fields, where it appears in disciplines that describe materials or substances with fibrous characteristics.

In soil science, fibric denotes the least decomposed category of organic soil material, typically found in peat. Fibric material is characterized by a high content of recognizable plant fibers and a fibrous, relatively undecomposed texture. Fibric peat forms a surface layer in some Histosols and is contrasted with hemic peat (moderately decomposed) and sapric peat (highly decomposed). The presence of fibric material indicates low humification, often accompanied by acidity and water saturation.

In pharmacology, fibric refers to fibric acid derivatives, a class of lipid-lowering drugs also known as fibrates. Members of this class include gemfibrozil, fenofibrate, and bezafibrate. They primarily act as agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) to reduce triglyceride levels and can modestly raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. They are used in managing hypertriglyceridemia and certain forms of dyslipidemia, particularly when statins are insufficient or unsuitable. Common adverse effects include digestive upset and potential liver enzyme elevations; there is also a risk of myopathy when used with statins and, with some agents, gallstone formation.

Etymology: fibric derives from Latin fibra, meaning fiber, with the suffix -ic meaning “of or pertaining to.”