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Increased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in men treated short-term with the diuretic chlorthalidone
Insights
Chlorthalidone, a diuretic, significantly increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in men. These changes in lipid profiles occurred without affecting other metabolic factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Essential hypertension management often involves diuretics.
- Lipoprotein alterations are a concern with antihypertensive therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of chlorthalidone on serum lipoproteins.
- To assess changes in LDL-C, HDL-C, and apolipoproteins.
Main Methods:
- 37 subjects (hypertensive men, normal men, hypertensive women) received 100 mg/day chlorthalidone for 6 weeks.
- Serum lipoproteins and apolipoproteins were measured.
- Correlations with plasma volume, electrolytes, glucose, insulin, blood pressure, and weight were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Chlorthalidone significantly increased LDL-C by 20% in hypertensive and normal men.
- A trend for increased LDL-C was observed in postmenopausal women.
- High-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased slightly in hypertensive men; apolipoproteins remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Short-term chlorthalidone therapy may elevate LDL-C in men across different blood pressure ranges.
- Lipoprotein alterations were independent of plasma volume and metabolic changes.
- Further research is needed to understand long-term cardiovascular implications.
Abstract:
The effect of the diuretic chlorthalidone (100 mg/day for 6 weeks) on serum lipoproteins was evaluated in 37 subjects. In 19 men with essential hypertension (aged 41 +/- 3 yr), 8 normal men (26 +/- 3 yr), or all of these men considered together, chlorthalidone significantly increased serum low density lipoprotein--cholesterol (LDL-C) by 20% (p less than 0.05 to less than 0.01). There was also a tendency for increased LDL-C in seven postmenopausal women (+/- 15%) but not in three premenopausal women with essential hypertension. High density lipoprotein--cholesterol was not significantly changed in hypertensive women or normal men and decreased slightly (p less than 0.05) in hypertensive men. Apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, and B were not changed significantly in women or men. Diuretic-induced lipoprotein alterations were not associated with altered plasma volume and unrelated to variations in serum potassium, glucose, insulin levels, blood pressure, and body weight. Short-term diuretic therapy with chlorthalidone may increase serum LDL-C in young or middle-aged men with normal or high blood pressure.