Combined para aminosalicylic acid and dietary therapy in long term control of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia (Types II(a) and II(b) hyperlipoproteinemia)

The hypolipidemic effect of PAS C diet treatment was studied in 63 patients with Types IIa and IIb hyperlipoproteinemia for 6-36 months. Serum lipids and body weight of all patients were stabilized by a low cholesterol saturated fat refined carbohydrate diet before the initiation of an eight week placebo drug single blind crossover study. During the placebo period the plasma lipids levels, mean ± SD: cholesterol 355 ± 63.5 mg%, triglyceride 141 ± 68.7 mg%, and LDL cholesterol 279 ± 56.8 mg% were lowered to 274 ± 53.1 mg%, 98 ± 40.6 mg%, and 209 ± 52.9 mg%, respectively (P<0.001 in each instance), with 7.5-11.0 grams of PAS C/day given in one to three divided doses. In ten patients who have completed three years of treatment similar results were obtained. They showed no tendency to develop drug tolerance. Eight had watery diarrhea during the initial period which promptly subsided with interruption of drug therapy. Reintroduction of PAS C in smaller dose (4.5 g/day) with gradual increment to effective dosage level was tolerated by all. No hematologic, hepatic, and ophthalmologic abnormalities were demonstrated by periodic monitoring. The hypolipidemic effect of the drug was found to be diminished by alcohol and caloric excess.