Effect of chronic administration of propranolol on lipoprotein composition.

Chronic effects of propranolol on plasma lipids and lipoprotein composition were examined in ten patients who had previous strokes and normal plasma lipids. Although plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol were not affected by propranolol, a slight decrease of free cholesterol and phospholipids and a significant increase of free fatty acids were observed in the eighth week of propranolol treatment. Reciprocal changes were observed in lipoprotein composition; these were an increase in lipids of very low-density lipoprotein and a decrease in lipids of both low-density and high-density lipoproteins. Postheparin lipolytic activity was significantly suppressed by the administration of propranolol. Inhibition of lipoprotein lipase by propranolol was considered to have played a role in the reciprocal changes of lipoprotein composition.