[A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of food supplement policosanol in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia].

Abstract

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was performed in 67 patients of both sexes aged 20 to 78 years with moderate hypercholesterolemia to investigate the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of food supplement policosanol--a mixture of aliphatic primary alcohols from rice (Oryza sp.). After a 8-week run-in period in which patients were placed on therapeutic lifestyle changes, in particular cholesterol-lowering diet, they were randomly assigned to receive policosanol 10 mg capsules or placebo capsules once daily with the evening meal for 8 weeks. During next 8 weeks those receiving policosanol during the first 8 weeks, received placebo and those taking placebo during the first 8 weeks, received policosanol. Total cholesterol (C), LDL-C, HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, triglycerides, oxidized LDL, apoproteins A I and B and lipoprotein (a) as well as AST, ALT, GGT, CK, blood glucose and bilirubin were determined before the treatment, after the first part of the study i.e. after the first 8 weeks and at the end of the study, i.e after the second 8 weeks. Policosanol significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol and increased apoprotein A I but did not change plasma triglycerides, HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, LDL-C, oxidized LDL, Lp (a) and apoproteinS. It was well tolerated, with no drug-related effects on safety parameters such as serum aminotransferases, blood glucose, bilirubin, and CK, neither did it cause any clinical adverse reactions.

• Authors: Eugenia Tedeschi-Reiner, Zeljko Reiner, Zeljko Romić, Davor Ivanković
• Journal: Lijecnicki vjesnik (Lijec Vjesn) 2005 Nov-Dec Vol. 127 Issue 11-12 Pg. 273-9 ISSN: 0024-3477 [Print] Croatia
• Vernacular Title: Randomizirano, dvostruko slijepo, placebom kontrolirano ispitivanje antilipemicke ucinkovitosti i neskodljivosti dijetetske namirnice polikozanola u bolesnika s umjerenom hiperlipidemijom.
• PMID: 16583932 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anticholesteremic Agents
• Fatty Alcohols
• policosanol

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anticholesteremic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dietary Supplements
• Double-Blind Method
• Fatty Alcohols (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypercholesterolemia (blood, diet therapy, drug therapy)
• Male
• Middle Aged