Intraindividual variability of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides and the effect of propranolol treatment

In 114 male subjects cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in plasma after overnight fasting were followed up during 12 weeks. About one third of the individuals showed pronounced day to day variations of their cholesterol or/and triglyceride levels. Considerable intraindividual variability was moreover found for HDL cholesterol. Plasma lipid instability was more frequent in hyperlipemics and in subjects with low HDL cholesterol than in normolipemics. It was tried to level out the fluctuations by a beta blocking agent. Propranolol was used and proved to reduce the fluctuations of total cholesterol. However, at the same time the concentrations of triglycerides were increased and those of HDL cholesterol decreased. Practical consequences of both the fluctuating plasma lipid concentrations and the propranolol effects are stressed.