[The effect of eicosapentaenoic acid and the calcium antagonist isradipin on lipid metabolism and erythrocytes in experimental hypercholesterolemia in rabbits].

The effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist isradipine on plasma cholesterol free fatty acids (FFA) and erythrocytes have been studied in 48 cholesterol-fed rabbits after 3-month experiment. EPA had no statistically significant reduction of total cholesterol, FFA but showed the accumulation of cholesterol in plasma and altered morphological and functional properties of erythrocytes. Isradipine revealed a dose-dependent reduction of hypercholesterolemia. levels of FFA in plasma and improved functions of erythrocytes. In this way EPA may be suitable for dietary treatment of atherosclerosis, while isradipine may be used for therapy of patients with an antisclerotic vascular system and hyperlipidemia.