- K, Na, Cr, BUN, Chol, Tg, HDL, LDL,ALT, AST in time 0, 1,12. Number of patients: The reduction in mean SBP expected to be 15 mmHg. Previous studies from our group reported an 14mmHg SD for mean SBP. The sample size required at the two sided 5% significance level and 80% power is 40 patients (Lehr's formula)