Effect of phenobarbitone on plasma lipids in normal subjects.
1. Phenobarbitone in a dose of 180 mg daily was administered to ten normal subjects for 3 weeks. There was a significant increase in total plasma cholesterol, plasma low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) triglycerides and plasma LDL protein. The increase in plasma LDL cholesterol accounted for the increase in total plasma cholesterol. There was a significant reduction in the ratio of LDL cholesterol to LDL protein. 2. No significant changes were observed in total plasma triglycerides, plasma very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) triglycerides, plasma VLDL cholesterol or plasma VLDL protein. 3. Evidence that drug-metabolizing enzymes were induced by phenobarbitone was provided by an increase in antipyrine clearance. No relationship was observed between changes in plasma cholesterol and changes in antipyrine clearance. Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was also increased after phenobarbitone administration, the increase being unrelated to changes in antipyrine clearance or plasma cholesterol.
Effect of phenobarbitone on plasma lipids in normal subjects. 1. Phenobarbitone in a dose of 180 mg daily was administered to ten normal subjects for 3 weeks. There was a significant increase in total plasma cholesterol, plasma low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) triglycerides and plasma LDL protein. The increase in plasma LDL cholesterol accounted for the increase in total plasma cholesterol. There was a significant reduction in the ratio of LDL cholesterol to LDL protein. 2. No significant changes were observed in total plasma triglycerides, plasma very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) triglycerides, plasma VLDL cholesterol or plasma VLDL protein. 3. Evidence that drug-metabolizing enzymes were induced by phenobarbitone was provided by an increase in antipyrine clearance. No relationship was observed between changes in plasma cholesterol and changes in antipyrine clearance. Serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was also increased after phenobarbitone administration, the increase being unrelated to changes in antipyrine clearance or plasma cholesterol.