Research Article

Effect of sugar cane policosanol on lipid profile in primary hypercholesterolemia

  1. F. Francini-Pesenti1,*,
  2. D. Beltramolli1,
  3. S. Dall'Acqua2,
  4. F. Brocadello1

Article first published online: 31 DEC 2007

DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2315

Issue

Phytotherapy Research

Phytotherapy Research

Volume 22, Issue 3, pages 318–322, March 2008

Additional Information

How to Cite

Francini-Pesenti, F., Beltramolli, D., Dall'Acqua, S. and Brocadello, F. (2008), Effect of sugar cane policosanol on lipid profile in primary hypercholesterolemia. Phytotherapy Research, 22: 318–322. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2315

Author Information

  1. 1

    Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera, Padua, Italy

  2. 2

    Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Padua, Italy

*Clinical Nutrition Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera, via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 FEB 2008
  2. Article first published online: 31 DEC 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 10 JUL 2007
  4. Manuscript Revised: 2 JUL 2007
  5. Manuscript Received: 30 MAY 2007

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Keywords:

  • sugar cane policosanol;
  • hypercholesterolemia;
  • clinical trial

Abstract

Policosanol, a mixture of long-chain aliphatic primary alcohols, is used as a cholesterol-lowering supplement. The effectiveness of policosanol is still questionable. To determine the lipoprotein-lowering effects of Cuban sugar cane-derived policosanol a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial was performed. Sixty-eight primary hypercholesterolemic subjects were enrolled and randomly assigned to the treatment or to the control group. The first group received sugar cane policosanol 20 mg daily for 8 weeks, while the control group was treated with placebo. All subjects followed a normocaloric diet. The content of policosanol in the supplement tablets was assessed by gas chromatography. A total of 32 subjects in the policosanol group and 31 subjects in the control group completed the study. Body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels did not change significantly in either group. In conclusion, sugar cane policosanol at doses of 20 mg daily showed no lipid lowering effects in subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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