Effects of ranitidine and cimetidine on plasma lipoproteins in healthy subjects

Serum lipoproteins were monitored in 24 healthy subjects receiving either ranitidine or cimetidine for four weeks. Ranitidine produced a significant (P less than .05) reduction in high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in both men and women. Cimetidine caused a nonsignificant increase in HDL-cholesterol and a reduction in LDL-cholesterol that was significant (P less than .05) only in women. As these drugs had opposite effects on HDL-cholesterol levels, the mechanism of action is unlikely to be medicated by H2-receptor blockade.