Sixty‐three patients with hypercholesterolemia and coronary disease were treated with d‐thyroxine for an average period of 16 months. D‐thyroxine decreased serum cholesterol without increasing the metabolic rate significantly when amt ranging from 4舑8 mg/day were used.
In 56 patients with essential hypercholesterolemia d‐thyroxine lowered the serum cholesterol in a little over half of the patients. In five patients with hypothyroidism and hypercholesterolemia treated with thyroid extract, the addition of d‐thyroxine resulted in marked and sustained lowering of serum cholesterol without causing hypermetabolism.
In two patients with diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia d‐thyroxine lowered the serum cholesterol without significantly affecting the diabetic state and the insulin requirement. Increase in angina was seen in 13% of the patients. In man, d‐thyroxine lowers the serum cholesterol by increasing the degradation and excretion of cholesterol.