Policosanol, an aliphatic alcohol sugarcane derivative: use in patients intolerant of or inadequately responsive to statin therapy

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.