News - Hypertension Week of November 9, 2003/ Vol. 2 No. 45

Study: Weight-Loss Drug Xenical Lowers Blood Pressure in Overweight People

The weight-loss drug Xenical® (orlistat) helps reduce the blood pressure of overweight and obese people, according to a study reported in the November issue of the Journal of Hypertension.

A team of Brazilian researchers assessed the effect of Xenical in 204 hypertensive patients between the ages of 18 and 75 who were overweight or obese. All of the participants were placed on a calorie-restricted diet. Only half were given daily doses of Xenical.

After 12 weeks, the systolic and diastolic blood pressures of the Xenical group decreased by 15.3 and 11.4 mmHg, respectively, compared to an 11.6 and 5.2 mmHg reduction in the diet-only group.

Those taking Xenical also lost more weight -- an average of 3.7 kilograms, compared to two kilograms in the diet-only group.

"Even a small reduction in weight helps to control blood pressure," concluded the researchers. "The cost-benefit of the use of orlistat (Xenical) should be evaluated for hypertensive obese patients."

Other sources: Journal of Hypertension 2003 Nov;21(11):2159-2165