EFFECT OF FLUVOXAMINE ON TOTAL SERUM-CHOLESTEROL LEVELS DURING WEIGHT-REDUCTION

Background: The effect of fluvoxamine ver sus placebo on serum cholest erol levels in obese women undergoing behavior therapy for weight redu ction was evaluated. Method: Forty obese female outpatients undergoing 13 weeks of a behaviorally oriented treatment program for weight redu ction were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with fluvoxamin e 100 mg/day (N = 18) or placebo (N = 22). Total serum cholesterol lev els were measured before and after the 13-week study period. Results: Patients of the two treatment groups did not differ in age, weight, bo dy mass index, cholesterol levels before treatment, and the extent of weight reduction during treatment. Cholesterol levels were significant ly lower after fluvoxamine treatment than before, whereas cholesterol levels remained unaltered after placebo administration. Patients with initially high total cholesterol levels (greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL) showed a significantly larger reduction than patients with desi rable cholesterol levels. However, there was no interaction between tr eatment and initial cholesterol level. Conclusion: The results might s uggest a cholesterol-lowering effect of fluvoxamine.