LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVE TREATMENT AND GOOD GLYCEMIC CONTROL ON PLASMA-LIPIDS IN DIABETIC RATS

The long-term effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (cap topril and enalapril), calcium-entry blockers (diltiazem and nicardipi ne), and good glycemic control on plasma lipids and lipoproteins were studied in streptozotocin diabetic rats. Diabetic rats had increased p lasma cholesterol, tryiglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) ; and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol than in normal rats. Com pared to other antihypertensives, nicardipine seems to have a less ben eficial effect on lipids and lipoproteins. However, it is only the goo d glycemic control that normalized these plasma lipids and lipoprotein s in diabetic rats. This suggests that good glycemic control prevents dyslipidemia in diabetic rats. The observed beneficial effects of anti hypertensives were unrelated to either food or water intake.