title: Comparison of composition and absorption of sugarcane policosanols.
abstract: Policosanols (PC) exist as very-long-chain alcohols derived from sugarcane currently used in many countries as a cholesterol-lowering therapy. PC purity and relative percentage composition have been suggested as primary reasons why the original Cuban PC (OPC) supplements possess lipid-lowering efficacy. The purpose of the present study was, first, to compare the relative percentage purity and PC composition of both OPC and alternative sources of PC (APC). A second objective was to feed Syrian hamsters a diet containing 0.275 mg PC/g of either the OPC or an APC product (APC1) and compare subsequent tissue, plasma and faecal PC levels. Five animals from the APC1 dietary group received a diet containing ten times the original amount of PC. Results indicate that the APC formulations have a composition that is highly consistent with the OPC supplement, with octacosanol being present within the cited 60-70 % range. PC were undetectable in the small intestine, liver, adipose or plasma in animals fed either source. Hamsters fed OPC excreted octacosanol (C28) more rapidly (P < 0.05) than hamsters receiving APC1. If the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of PC mixtures is dependent on their purity and composition, then sugarcane-derived APC products should possess similar therapeutic properties as the OPC supplement.
authors.affiliation: School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3V9 Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher P F
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Marinangeli
authors.forename: Amira N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Kassis
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ebine
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cunnane
authors.forename: Peter J H
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006224:Cricetinae; D003462:Cuba; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000652:urine; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D008647:Mesocricetus; D031786:Saccharum / Q000737:chemistry*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; C080710:policosanol; C044309:1-octacosanol