Changes in serum phosphate during beta-blockade in healthy men are not due to changes in the renal handling of phosphate

Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphate, ionized calcium, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine and the urinary excretion of phosphate and creatinine were studied after 1 and 3 weeks beta-blockade in 32 young healthy men given either atenolol at 50 mg, metoprolol at 100 mg, propranolol at 80 mg or placebo twice a day. After 1 week treatment serum phosphate (mean (range] increased in the propranolol-treated subjects (1.17 (0.99-1.30) to 1.32 (1.08-1.71) mmol l-1 (P = 0.03), minor changes were found in the atenolol and the metoprolol-treated subjects but not in the placebo group. Serum phosphate was unchanged compared to pretreatment values after 3 weeks. Renal clearance and urinary excretion of phosphate and creatinine was unchanged after both 1 and 3-weeks treatment. Serum PTH, ionized calcium, magnesium and alkaline phosphatase were unchanged in all groups, whereas serum urate and creatinine increased in the metoprolol-treated subjects after both 1 and 3 weeks.