Policosanol Fails to Lower LDL in New Study

MIAMI BEACH, Fla.--Despite reports that policosanol, long-chain alcohols derived from sugar cane, can lower cholesterol, new study results from research conducted at Mount Sinai Medical Center here shows the compound reduced neither low-density lippoprotein (LDL) nor total cholesterol when administered alone or in combination with a common statin drug.

Using a randomized, parallel, double blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled design, researchers assigned 99 patients with LDL levels from 140 to 189 mg/dL into one of four groups to receive 20 mg/d policosanol, 10 mg/d atorvastatin, combination therapy, or placebo for 12 weeks; baseline characteristics were similar among all treatment groups.

Policosanol alone did not significantly change plasma total cholesterol, LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or triglyceride levels when compared with baseline values or placebo; while atorvastatin alone reduced total cholesterol by 27 percent and LDL by 35 percent. Combining the two treatments did not enhance the effect on lipid levels above that of atorvastatin alone. Researchers did note policosanol was safe and did not affect liver enzyme or creatinine phosphokinase levels.

In addition to concluding policosanol did not appear to reduce lipid levels, the scientists further said their observation supports the need for systematic evaluation of available products containing policosanol to determine their clinical lipid-lowering efficacy under rigorous experimental conditions. They also proposed policosanol be added to the list of nutritional supplements lacking scientific validity to support their use.

The results appeared in the November issue of American Heart Journal (2006; 152(5):982e1-e5).