A multicenter comparison of nicorandil and diltiazem on serum lipid,apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein levels in patients with ischemic heart disease

Summary The effects of nicorandil and diltiazem on serum lipid, apolipoprotein, and lipoprotein levels in 37 patients with ischemic heart disease were examined in a randomized, multicenter study. Nicorandil (n=20, 10–40 mg/day, b.i.d.) and diltiazem (n=17, 60–240 mg/day, b.i.d.) were administered for 12 weeks. Both nicorandil and diltiazem administration showed an effective antianginal effect. Diltiazem administration showed a significant hypotensive action. There were no significant changes in serum lipids, apolipoproteins, and lipoproteins for both nicorandil and diltiazem. There were no significant changes in body weight, uric acid, and fasting blood sugar levels during the test period for both drugs. These data show that nicorandil, like diltiazem, does not have any adverse effects on lipid metabolism and that it is a favorable drug to use as an agent for treating arteriosclerotic heart disease.This paper was presented, in part, at the 3rd Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy International Symposium, October 15–19, 1989, Kyoto, Japan.