Nicardipine does but glofibrate does not elevate high density lipoprotein in experimental atherosclerosis in rats

In the present investigation, the effect of oral administration of nicardipine [NCP] [12.5-100 mg/Kg] and clofibrate [CF] [25-200 mg/Kg] on lipids and lipoproteins in normal and hyperlipidemic rats were studied. The serum and liver levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids were determined. Moreover serum high density lipoprotein [HDL], low density lipoprotein [LDL] and very low density lipoprotein [VLDL] were estimated. Results revealed that in normal rats both NCP and CF induced significant reductions of serum cholesterol. Moreover NCP tended to increase serum HDL-L cholesterol. However neither NCP nor CF significantly affect serum phospholipids, although serum triglycerides were significantly reduced by CF. Moreover; CF but not NCP produced significant decrease of liver cholesterol. Although liver triglycerides were significantly reduced by CF, they were significantly elevated by NCP. In hypercholesterolemic rats: NCP but not CF significantly increased serum HDL-cholesterol. Both CF and NCP induced significant reduction of serum cholesterol. Moverover serum triglycerides were significantly elevated by NCP but not by CF. However, serum phospholipids were significantly decreased by CF, whereas NCP showed no effect. In liver, NCP produced significant elevation of phospholipids, whereas CF caused no significant alterations in phospholipids, cholesterol and triglycerides. The analysis of serum lipoproteins proved that NCP and CF caused significant reductions of both VLDL and LDL. Moverover NCP exhibited significant elevations in serum levels of high density lipoproteins Although CF caused no significant effects on high density lipoproteins of serum of hypercholesterolemic rats. Results were discussed

reversal of cholesterol transport in hyperlipoproteinemia

High levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] can reverse cholesterol accumulation in the arterial wall by reversing cholesterol transport. To determine this fact by getting high levels of HDL-C fraction of serum nicotinic acid was given in a 3 g daily dose for 6 weeks to 20 patients of mean age 52 +/- 9 years, with type IIa, type IIb and type IV hyperlipoproteinemia [HLP]. The cholesterol levels of serum very low density [VLDL] and low density [LDL] lipoprotein decreased during treatment [P <0.05]. Serum HDL cholesterol levels increased by 37%. Changes in the concentrations of HDL-C after 6 weeks of drug treatment were not related to the type of HLP, neither were these effects of nicotinic acid correlated with changes in VLDL or LDL lipid levels. From this study it was concluded that HDL-C could be increased by prolonged nicotinic acid therapy and, therefore, could reverse cholesterol transport. High levels of HDL-C is an important determinant of the antiatherogenic effects of the drug

Alteraciones del metabolismo de lipidos y carbohidratos en un grupo de pacientes obesos / Changes of lipids and carbohydrates metabolism in a group of obese patients

Se realizó un encuesta en 219 pacientes obesos que ocurrieron al hospital militar central "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay", desde abril de 1981 a marzo de 1983. A los mismos se les hizo estudio de lípidos y carbohidratos, simultáneamente se escogió al azar un grupo control de pacientes no obesos a los cuales se le efectuaron las mismas investigaciones y se constató que el 63,4% de los obesos padecían de hiperlipoproteinemias (II-A, IIB y tipo IV contra un ll,l% de hiperlipo proteínemias del mismo tipo en los pacientes de grupo control, y se apreció en el resultado obtenido con los obesos, una frecuencia muy superior a lo reportado en la literatura mundial en estudios de población general. Se detectó un 24,4% de diabéticos (TGA) en los obesos, muy por encima del 1,9% que se apreció en los no obesos del grupo control y a lo señalado en la bibliografía revisada. Se comprueba con el estudio la frecuencia presencia de transtornos en el metabolismo de lípidoss y de hidratos de carbono en el curso de la obsedida