The present invention provides a preventive or therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia, comprising as an active ingredient a heterocyclic compound of the formula [1], or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: ##STR1##

wherein:

• R¹ is optionally substituted aryl or aromatic heterocyclic group, Het is a divalent aromatic heterocyclic group, D is alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, or the like, and E is carboxy, or the like, and novel compounds among the heterocyclic compounds of the formula [1] above, which has blood triglyceride lowering effect, LDL-C lowering effect, and blood glucose lowering effect and blood insulin lowering effect, or HDL-C increasing effect or atherogenic index lowering effect all together, and hence is useful in the prevention or treatment of hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, and the like.