Medications that reduce blood pressure and blood lipids act not only at their target structure, but also influence diverse metabolic pathways, the German Research Center for Environmental Health said on Wednesday.

A team of researchers from the institute arrived at the conclusion based on altered metabolic rates after medication was taken. The data contributes to a broader understanding of the working effects of commonly prescribed medication groups, the researchers reported in the European Journal of Epidemiology.

Scientists carried out measurements of various metabolites among more than 1,700 participants of a population-based study. They then compared the data after medications were taken for high blood pressure or elevated blood lipids.

Other influences on metabolism such as age, sex, body weight or lifestyle were also taken into account.

On the basis of population-based data collected under everyday conditions, the team led by Dr. Elisabeth Altmaier, Dr. Gabi Kastenmueller and Dr. Christian Gieger could find possible new relationships between the medication and an altered metabolic activity.

"The medications affect metabolism in many ways," said Altmaier, "Our results provide important insights into the complex working effects of these medication groups, which take effects not only in reducing blood pressure and blood fat."

Thus, for example, the decreased levels of free fatty acids in the blood would be observed when the active ingredient of beta-blocker is taken.

Comprehensive findings on the affected signaling pathways make it possible to estimate effects and side effects, which enables individualized treatment.

"If we know the entire spectrum of a substance, we can use the medication in more targeted ways, that is to say, in term of an individualized therapy," says Altmaier.