Effects of policosanol (10 mg/d) versus aspirin (100 mg/d) in patients with intermittent claudication: a 10-week, randomized, comparative study.
Antiplatelet therapy, including aspirin, is recommended to lower the vascular risk in patients with intermittent claudication. Policosanol has increased walking distances in these patients, probably because of its antiplatelet effects, but the effect of shorter treatment has not been studied. This double-blind study compared the effects of policosanol 10 mg/d and aspirin 100 mg/d for 10 weeks on walking distances in claudicants. Thirty-nine patients were randomized to policosanol or aspirin. Walking distances on a treadmill were assessed before and after treatment. Policosanol significantly increased the initial and absolute claudication distances, while aspirin changed neither variable. Policosanol, not aspirin, significantly lowered serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and total cholesterol while raising high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. In conclusion, treatments of policosanol, not aspirin, for 10 weeks significantly increased walking distances, but modestly, in contrast with previous results. Therefore, the duration of treatments at the doses tested was too short for meaningful effects on the treadmill test.
Illnait
José
J
Medical Surgical Research Centre, Havana City, Cuba. clinica@enet.cu
Castaño
Gladys
G
Alvarez
Ernesto
E
Fernández
Lilia
L
Mas
Rosa
R
Mendoza
Sarahí
S
Gamez
Rafael
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005080:Exercise Test; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D008055:Lipids; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; C080710:policosanol; D001241:Aspirin