Lack of effect of sugar cane and sunflower seed policosanols on plasma cholesterol in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential for a mixture of policosanol extracted from sunflower oil (SFP) to lower blood cholesterol levels in comparison to sugar cane policosanol (SCP) in rabbits.


METHODS
Twenty three Semi-lop rabbits were blocked into three groups matched on fasting plasma cholesterol levels then randomly assigned to one of three parallel treatment arms: Control (Vehicle 28.6% sunflower oil/70% water/1.4% emulsifier) n = 7; SFP, 100 mg/kg in vehicle, n = 8; SCP, 100 mg/kg in vehicle, n = 8. Rabbits were gavaged once every two days for four weeks. Blood was collected and analysed for plasma lipids.


RESULTS
Total cholesterol, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol increased significantly following SCP supplementation relative to the control. SFP supplementation had no effect. Triglyceride levels decreased significantly following all dietary treatments (P < 0.05), possibly due to the emulsifier.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary supplementation of normocholesterolemic rabbits with policosanol from sunflower oil does not appear to have any cholesterol lowering effect. A similar lack of efficacy observed with the commercial SCP product which we evaluated raises doubts about the purported cholesterol-lowering efficacy of these products, as reflected in the current literature.
Murphy
Karen J
KJ
Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. karen.murphy@unisa.edu.au
Saint
David A
DA
Howe
Peter R C
PR
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D031786:Saccharum; D000074242:Sunflower Oil
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; D000074242:Sunflower Oil; C080710:policosanol; D002784:Cholesterol