Sugar cane policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in primitive, diet-resistant hypercholesterolaemia: a double blind, controlled study.
Previous clinical studies have shown that oral administration of sugar cane policosanol (SCP) reduces plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial was performed in hypercholesterolaemic, diet-resistant patients. Seventy patients meeting the selection criteria were enrolled. Each subject was treated with policosanol 10 mg/d in addition to a dietetic regimen for 8 weeks. At the start and at the end of the study body weight, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) plasma levels were measured. Thirty-three subjects in the policosanol and Thirty-one subjects in the control group completed the study. During the study body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels did not change significantly within and between groups. In conclusion, sugar cane policosanol at a dose of 10mg/d showed no lipid lowering effects in subjects with primitive, diet-resistant hypercholesterolaemia.
Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera, via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy. francescofrancini@yahoo.it
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Francini-Pesenti
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Brocadello
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Beltramolli
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Nardi
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Caregaro
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D031786:Saccharum; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D014280:Triglycerides; C080710:policosanol; D002784:Cholesterol