A two-way cross-over trial comparing the effects of acebutolol and propranolol on the lipid profile was conducted. 50 patients were evaluated. The primary objective was to determine whether treatment by certain classes of beta-blockers induced deleterious effects on the serum lipids which could partially or wholly negate the beneficial effect of controlling hypertension. Each patient served as his/her own control, and received 6 weeks of therapy with acebutolol and 6 weeks of therapy with propranolol. The analysis of the results revealed that acebutolol did not have any adverse effect on the lipid profile in contrast to reports which implicate other beta-blockers in inducing pro-atherogenic changes in the serum lipid profile; but acebutolol and propranolol were equi-effective in controlling hypertension.