The effect on HDL cholesterol of oxprenolol and atenolol

Abstract

In 19 healthy men aged 50 with untreated mild essential hypertension (WHO group I classification) randomized into two groups, treatment (18 weeks) with oxprenolol (n = 10) lowered HDL cholesterol by 11.4% (P < 0.02) and cholesterol ratio (HDL cholesterol × 100/LDL + VLDL cholesterol) by 13.7% (P < 0.05) whereas atenolol (n =9) lowered HDL cholesterol by 16.5% (P < 0.02) and cholesterol ratio by 19.2% (P < 0.01). In the total material (n = 19) the reduction in HDL cholesterol correlated positively with initial concentration of HDL r = 0.48, P < 0.05). Increments of total triglycerides by 20.0 and 17.9%, respectively, for the two drugs and small changes in total cholesterol, LDL + VLDL cholesterol and uric acid were not significant. The HDL cholesterol lowering effect of oxprenolol and atenolol observed in the present study may have clinical importance since such metabolic side effects have been postulated to counteract the beneficial effect of blood pressure reduction on development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease in mild essential hypertension.

Key-words:

• atenolol
• beta-blockade
• cholesterol ratio
• HDL cholesterol
• mild essential hypertension
• oxprenolol
• triglycerides