Effects of oxandrolone on plasma triglycerides and postheparin lipolytic activity in patients with types III, IV, and V familial hyperlipoproteinemia

Abstract

Effects of Oxandrolone on plasma lipids, post-heparin lipases, fasting free fatty acids, glucose and insulin were studied in twenty patients with Types III, IV, and V hyperlipoproteinemia. Triglycerides fell significantly in 14 of 20 patients on short term therapy, and in an additional four patients on prolonged therapy. The fall in triglycerides was associated with a qualitative decrease in both chylomicron and prebeta- lipoprotein concentrations on paper lipoprotein electrophoresis. There were concurrent major increases in postheparin lipolytic activity without uniform changes in free fatty acids, glucose or insulin. Marked stimulation of postheparin lipolytic activities and increased peripheral triglyceride hydrolysis may in part account for the triglyceride lowering effect of oxandrolone.