The effect of sulphonylurea therapy on serum total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol

A study was conducted on 50 cases comprising 25 patients of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and 25 age and sex matched normal individuals. The diabetic state of the patients was controlled by glibenclamide, a sulphonylurea. The levels of serum total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were measured at the start and 15 and 30 days after glibenclamide therapy. There was a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in the levels of serum total cholesterol from initial 222.96 +/- 31.04 mg% to 218 +/- 28.99 mg% after 15 days and to 211.8 +/- 28.42 mg% after 30 days of therapy. In no case there was increase in serum total cholesterol level. There was a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the levels of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol from initial 20.96 +/- 4.59 mg% to 21.8 +/- 4.78 mg% after 15 days to 23.72 +/- 5.07 mg% after 30 days of glibenclamide therapy and no case showed a fall in serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol level. This favourable alteration in serum total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed in patients of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus having ischaemic heart disease as well.