Abstract
Policosanol is a compound derived from sugarcane wax with low-density-lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol-lowering properties. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect
of Policosanol on LDL cholesterol reduction in patients intolerant of statin therapy
or on concomitant statin therapy but not at target LDL cholesterol levels. Twenty-one
patients treated with policosanol 10 mg twice a day for 156 ± 63 days were analyzed
retrospectively. Pre- and posttreatment fasting lipid profiles were collected and
statistical analysis was performed as paired t-tests. Data were further analyzed into subgroups based on the presence or absence
of statin therapy. In the 21 patients, LDL cholesterol decreased by 17% (p < 0.001) and total cholesterol decreased by 9.4% (p < 0.001). No significant changes were seen in high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
or triglyceride levels. In the 6 patients treated with a statin and Policosanol, there
was also a 17% LDL cholesterol reduction (p = 0.005). In the 15 patients treated only with Policosanol, LDL cholesterol was also
decreased by 17% (p = 0.003). Policosanol use was observed to be associated with a mild-to-moderate (17%)
decrease in LDL cholesterol. This association was observed in patients intolerant
of statin therapy and in those receiving adjunctive Policosanol with statin therapy.
