Effect of oxprenolol and metoprolol on serum lipid concentration

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether a reduction in HDL-cholesterol is peculiar to non cardioselective beta blockers or whether it is also produced by cardioselective beta 1-blockers. 16 patients with primary arterial hypertension on a balanced isocaloric diet were given oxprenolol 120 to 240 mg/day or metoprolol 100 to 200 mg/day in a random cross-over study. No significant change was observed after either treatment in fasting blood glucose, serum total cholesterol and triglycerides. HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly decreased on metoprolol, from 41 to 36 mg/dl (p less than 0.05), while oxprenolol did not affect it at all. The difference might depend on intrinsic sympathomimetic activity which is possessed by oxprenolol and which metoprolol lacks.