Effects of naproxen and nabumetone on serum cholesterol levels in patients with osteoarthritis

Abstract In a 12-week controlled clinical study of the effects of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug regimens on serum lipoproteins in patients with osteoarthritis, 54 patients were treated with naproxen, 500 mg twice daily, and 45 patients were treated with nabumetone, 1000 mg once daily. In patients who received naproxen, the mean levels of total serum cholesterol decreased by 18.3 mg/dL (7.0%) from baseline to 12 weeks, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol remained unchanged, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased by 15.4 mg/dL (8.7%). In patients who received nabumetone, mean levels of total serum cholesterol increased 10.4 mg/dL (4.0%), HDL cholesterol remained unchanged, and LDL cholesterol increased 7.2 mg/dL (4.1%). Furthermore, serum triglyceride levels tended to increase in nabumetone-treated patients and decrease in naproxen-treated patients, with a statistically significant ( P P