HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kassis, A. N Articles by Jones, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kassis, A. N Articles by Jones, P. J. Agricola Articles by Kassis, A. N Articles by Jones, P. J.

Lack of cholesterol-lowering efficacy of Cuban sugar cane policosanols in hypercholesterolemic persons^1,2,3

¹ From the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Background: More than 50 studies have reported substantial reductions in plasma lipid concentrations in response to 2–40 mg Cuban sugar cane policosanol (SCP) mixtures/d. However, several animal and human trials conducted outside of Cuba that used non-Cuban mixtures have failed to reproduce the efficacy of policosanols observed in earlier studies.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate lipid-modulating actions of the authentic Cuban SCPs on plasma lipids in healthy hypercholesterolemic volunteers.

Design: Twenty-one volunteers consumed, under supervision, 10 mg SCPs/d or a placebo incorporated in margarine as an afternoon snack, for a period of 28 d with the use of a randomized, double-blind crossover study design. Subjects maintained their habitual diet and physical activity and were weighed daily throughout the study period. Blood was collected at days 1, 2, 28, and 29 of the feeding trial, and lipid concentrations were measured.

Results: Body weights did not vary significantly throughout the trial and did not affect plasma lipid values. No significant difference was observed between treatment and control groups in plasma total, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, and triacylglycerol concentrations.

Conclusion: Present results show no beneficial effects of Cuban SCPs on lipid indicators in hypercholesterolemic persons and question the clinical usefulness of policosanol mixtures as cholesterol-lowering neutraceutical agents.

Key Words: Double-blind crossover study design • sugar cane policosanols • cholesterol-lowering effect • LDL cholesterol • hypercholesterolemic persons

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. P. J. Dullens, R. P. Mensink, M. C. E. Bragt, A. K. Kies, and J. Plat Effects of emulsified policosanols with different chain lengths on cholesterol metabolism in heterozygous LDL receptor-deficient mice J. Lipid Res., April 1, 2008; 49(4): 790 - 796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]