Effect of nifedipine gits on blood pressure, glucose metabolism, and lipid levels in hypertensive patients

Nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker widely used in the treatment of angina, has potent vasodilatory effects, making it an excellent anti-hypertensive agent. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, paralleldose-response trial, we studied the effects of nifedipine GITS, a once-a-day dosage formulation, on blood pressure levels, serum lipid and lipoprotein levels, and glucose homeostasis in patients with mild essential hypertension. The blood pressure levels of the 23 patients treated with nifedipine GITS [systolic/diastolic (mean)] fell from 148 ± 4/98 ± 3 (115 ± 4) mmHg to 130 ± 13/85 ± 6 (100 ± 7 mmHg (P < 0.001). At the conclusion of the study, both diastolic and mean blood pressure levels in the nifedipine GITS group were significantly lower than those of the placebo group (P < 0.05). Nifedipine GITS had no effect on total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels or the glycosylated hemoglobin level (a measure of glucose homeostasis). Thus nifedipine GITS is effective in reducing blood pressure and has no adverse effects on lipid levels or glucose metabolism. We suggest that nifedipine GITS may be a treatment of choice for hypertensive patients who have other coronary risk factors, such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia.