The effect of acebutolol on plasma lipids, blood glucose and serum insulin levels.

The effect on plasma lipids of acebutolol given orally over a 6-month period to 18 patients with essential hypertension was studied. There were no significant changes in the concentrations of plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides during treatment. The level of HDL cholesterol decreased slightly but not significantly during treatment. Plasma free fatty acids decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) during treatment with acebutolol. During an oral glucose tolerance test, blood glucose values were elevated after acebutolol therapy at 60 (p less than 0.05) and 120 min (p less than 0.05). No impairment of insulin release was observed after acebutolol therapy.