Nebivolol decreases systemic oxidative stress in healthy volunteers

Aims Nebivolol is a selective, vasodilatory beta(1)-adrenergic receptor antagonist which has been suggested to possess additional antioxidative properties. The aim of the present study was to assess the actions of nebivolol in antihypertensive doses on systemic oxidative stress in healthy volunteers, reflected by 24 h urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha). Methods In a double-blind, cross-over study, 12 healthy volunteers received 5 mg nebivolol once daily or placebo for a total of 7 days, separated by a wash out period of 2 weeks. After each treatment period 24 h urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) was determined by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Results After the 7 day treatment period nebivolol decreased significantly urinary excretion of 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) by 24% from 55.3 +/- 5.1 pmol mmol(-1) creatinine during the placebo period to 42.3 +/- 4.7 pmol mmol(-1) creatinine (mean +/- s.e. mean, P = 0.01), a mean decrease of 13 pmol mmol(-1) creatinine (95% CI: -22.8; -3.1). Conclusions Our data show for the first time that nebivolol decreases systemic oxidative stress in young healthy volunteers.