Effects of policosanol in elderly hypercholesterolemic patients

Effect of dietary octacosanol concentration extracted from triticale sprout on laying performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of laying hens

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of octacosanol (OCT) extracted from triticale sprout on laying performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of laying hens. A total of 192, Hyline brown laying hens aged 43 weeks were divided into 4 dietary groups of 48 birds each and they were randomly subjected to one of the experimental diets containing OCT at the levels of none, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg of diet. All birds were fed with isoenergetic and isonitrogenous mash diets for 6 weeks. The result showed that hens supplemented with 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT in diet significantly increased (p < 0.05) egg production than those fed with the basal diet. OCT concentration in the egg yolk of hens fed with 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT was significantly higher than in those fed the control diet. Hens fed 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT exhibited greater high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and interleukin (IL) concentrations and reduced serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride compared to those fed with 0 and 10 mg/kg OCT. This study indicates that supplementing the diet of laying hens with 20 and 30 mg/kg of OCT can improve the performance, egg quality, and health status of laying hens.

Effects of Octacosanol Extracted from Rice Bran on the Laying Performance, Egg Quality and Blood Metabolites of Laying Hens

A 42-d study with 384 Hy-line brown laying hens was conducted to assess the effects of dietary octacosanol supplementation on laying performance, egg quality and blood metabolites of laying hens. Hens were randomly allocated into 4 dietary groups of 8 cages each, which were fed basal diet supplemented with 0 (Control), 9 (OCT9), 18 (OCT18), and 27 (OCT27) mg/kg diet of octacosanol isolated from rice bran, respectively. The experiment was conducted in an environmental controlled house and hens were fed twice daily for ad libitum intake. Laying performance was determined over the 42-d period, and egg quality as well as blood metabolites were estimated on d 21 and d 42. Diets in OCT18 and OCT27 increased (p<0.05) laying rate, egg weight, egg mass, egg albumen height, Haugh unit and eggshell strength on d 42, but decreased (p<0.05) feed conversion rate and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in the serum as compared to those of Control. Feed intake, yolk color, yolk diameter, eggshell thickness and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were similar (p>0.05) among treatments. Results demonstrate that supplementing 18 to 27 mg/kg diet of rice bran octacosanol can improve laying rate and egg quality and reduce blood lipid of laying hens.

Effects of Dietary Octacosanol on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Meat Quality of Broiler Chicks

Octacosanol, which has prominent physiological activities and functions, has been recognized as a potential growth promoter in animals. A total of 392 1-d-old male Arbor Acres broiler chicks with similar body weight were randomly distributed into four dietary groups of seven replicates with 14 birds each supplemented with 0, 12, 24, or 36 mg octacosanol (extracted from rice bran, purity >92%)/kg feed. The feeding trial lasted for six weeks and was divided into the starter (day 1 to 21) and the grower (day 22 to 42) phases. The results showed that the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly improved in broilers fed a diet containing 24 mg/kg octacosanol compared with those fed the control diet in the overall phase (day 1 to 42, p = 0.042). The average daily gain and FCR both showed linear effects in response to dietary supplementation of octacosanol during the overall phase (p = 0.031 and 0.018, respectively). Broilers fed with 24 or 36 mg/kg octacosanol diet showed a higher eviscerated yield, which increased by 5.88% and 4.26% respectively, than those fed the control diet (p = 0.030). The breast muscle yield of broilers fed with 24 mg/kg octacosanol diet increased significantly by 12.15% compared with those fed the control diet (p = 0.047). Eviscerated and breast muscle yield increased linearly with the increase in dietary octacosanol supplementation (p = 0.013 and 0.021, respectively). Broilers fed with 24 or 36 mg/kg octacosanol diet had a greater (p = 0.021) pH_45min value in the breast muscle, which was maintained linearly in response to dietary octacosanol supplementation (p = 0.003). There was a significant decrease (p = 0.007) in drip loss value between the octacosanol-added and the control groups. The drip loss showed linear (p = 0.004) and quadratic (p = 0.041) responses with dietary supplementation of octacosanol. These studies indicate that octacosanol is a potentially effective and safe feed additive which may improve feed efficiency and meat quality, and increase eviscerated and breast muscle yield, in broiler chicks. Dietary supplementation of octacosanol at 24 mg/kg diet is regarded as the recommended dosage in the broilers’ diet.

An ezetimibe-policosanol combination has the potential to be an OTC agent that could dramatically lower LDL cholesterol without side effects

Although many risk factors influence atherogenesis, LDL appears to play a primary role in this process. In prospective epidemiology, coronary risk increases as LDL cholesterol increases, throughout the entire range of concentrations encountered in healthy humans. Coronary risk is minimal in individuals and populations whose serum cholesterol remains quite low throughout life. Thus, practical strategies for achieving large reductions of LDL cholesterol in the general population could have a dramatic impact on coronary mortality rates. Dietary measures have limited potential in this regard; modest restriction of saturated fat has a rather trivial effect on LDL cholesterol, and the very-low-fat quasi-vegan diets that do have a notable effect in this regard currently have little appeal to the majority of the population. With respect to pharmacotherapy, most available hypolipidemic agents with reasonably potent activity entail side effects or compliance difficulties that would render their use too expensive or impractical for population-wide application. However, two agents may have great potential in this regard: policosanol and ezetimibe. The former, a mixture of long-chain alcohols derived from sugar cane wax, has effects on serum lipids comparable to those of statins, and may work by down-regulating expression of HMG-CoA reductase. However, unlike statins, policosanol appears to be devoid of side effects or risks. Ezetimibe is a newly approved drug that is a potent and highly specific inhibitor of an intestinal sterol permease; in daily doses as low as 10 mg, it suppresses intestinal absorption of cholesterol and decreases serum LDL cholesterol by approximately 18%. No side effects have been seen in clinical doses, and the fact that its hypolipidemic activity is additive to that of statins has generated considerable interest. Both policosanol and ezetimibe can be administered once daily. Future studies should determine whether policosanol, like statins, interacts additively with ezetimibe. If so, it may be feasible someday to produce a tablet combining policosanol and ezetimibe that could reduce LDL cholesterol by about 40%, without side effects, and that could be recommended to virtually anyone whose LDL cholesterol levels were not already ideal.

D-003 and warfarin interaction on the bleeding time and venous thrombosis experimentally induced in rats

D-003 is a mixture of higher aliphatic primary acids isolated and purified from sugarcane wax, the main component of which is octacosanoic acid. D-003 exhibits a cholesterol-lowering effect as well as antiplatelet and antithrombotic effects in experimental models. Warfarin is a coumarin derivative with anticoagulant activity that acts as a vitamin K antagonist. Since in clinical practice warfarin and D-003 could be administered together, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the simultaneous administration of both drugs on the bleeding time and the venous thrombosis experimentally induced in rats. The combined therapy of minimally effective doses of D-003 and warfarin produced an antithrombotic effect significantly higher than those produced by each monotherapy. Likewise, the prolongation of bleeding time induced by warfarin was increased by the simultaneous administration with D-003, showing a synergistic effect between both drugs.

Pharmacological Interaction Between Policosanol and Nitroprusside in Rats

Policosanol is a natural mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols isolated from sugar cane wax (Saccharum officinarum L.). It has cholesterol-lowering effects demonstrated in experimental models and in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia, with positive pleiotropic properties such as inhibition of platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation. Policosanol reduced thromboxane A(2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) serum levels in animals and human beings. Because nitric oxide (NO) can be destroyed by oxygen-derived radicals and policosanol possesses an antioxidant effect, the purpose of this study was to determine the putative interaction between policosanol and nitroprusside (an NO-containing substance) on platelet aggregation and arterial blood pressure in rats. The percentage of inhibition of adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation (preincubation with nitroprusside) was higher in platelet-rich plasma of policosanol-treated animals than in control animals. Pretreatment with single doses of policosanol significantly increased the nitroprusside-induced hypotensive effect.

Effects of policosanol on older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of policosanol administered for 12 months on the lipid profile of older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia and no history of coronary heart disease (CHD) or cerebrovascular disease.

PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS

589 older male and female patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia and no history of CHD or cerebrovascular disease were included.

METHODS

This was a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in parallel groups treated with policosanol (5 to 10 mg/day) for 1 year. After 6 weeks on a standard step I cholesterol-lowering diet, 589 patients were randomised to policosanol (5 mg) or placebo tablets, to be taken once daily for 12 months. The dosage was doubled to 10 mg/day if total cholesterol values were > 6.1 mmol/L after 6 months of therapy.

RESULTS

Policosanol significantly (p < 0.00001) lowered serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) [20.5%], total cholesterol (TC) [15.4%], triglycerides (11.9%), LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio [22.2%] and TC/HDL-C ratio (20.1%), and increased (p < 0.0001) HDL-C (12.7%). The frequency of vascular and all-cause serious adverse events (SAEs) was lower (p < 0.05) in the policosanol recipients (two vascular SAEs, 0.7%; five all-cause SAEs, 1.7%) than in the placebo recipients (six vascular SAEs, 2.0%; 12 all-cause SAEs, 4.1%). Similarly, total adverse events (AEs) were less frequent in the policosanol-treated group (29; 9.8%) compared with the placebo group (52; 17.7%) [p < 0.01]. Three placebo recipients and no policosanol recipents died during the study as a result of myocardial infarction (two patients) and sudden cardiac arrest (one). Policosanol was well tolerated, and no drug-related disturbances in safety indicators were found. Policosanol significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (BP) compared with baseline and placebo, which could be an additional advantage in this population at high coronary risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Policosanol administered long term is effective in lowering LDL-C and TC as well as increasing HDL-C levels in older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia without a history of CHD or cerebrovascular disease. In addition, policosanol treatment also shows benefits in the occurrence of SAEs of vascular aetiology, on the general AE profile and the reduction of BP in treated patients compared with baseline.

Policosanol safely down-regulates HMG-CoA reductase - potential as a component of the Esselstyn regimen

Many of the wide-ranging health benefits conferred by statin therapy are mediated, not by reductions in LDL cholesterol, but rather by inhibition of isoprenylation reactions essential to the activation of Rho family GTPases; this may be the mechanism primarily responsible for the favorable impact of statins on risk for ischemic stroke, senile dementia, and fractures, as well as the anti-hypertensive and platelet-stabilizing actions of these drugs. Indeed, the extent of these benefits is such as to suggest that most adults would be wise to take statins; however, owing to the significant expense of statin therapy, as well as to the potential for dangerous side effects that mandates regular physician follow-up, this strategy appears impractical. However, policosanol, a mixture of long-chain aliphatic alcohols extractable from sugar cane wax, has shown cholesterol-lowering potency comparable to that of statins, and yet appears to be devoid of toxic risk. Recent evidence indicates that policosanol down-regulates cellular expression of HMG-CoA reductase, and thus has the potential to suppress isoprenylation reactions much like statins do. Consistent with this possibility, the results of certain clinical and animal studies demonstrate that policosanol has many effects analogous to those of statins that are not likely explained by reductions of LDL cholesterol. However, unlike statins, policosanol does not directly inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, and even in high concentrations it fails to down-regulate this enzyme by more than 50% - thus likely accounting for the safety of this nutraceutical. In light of the fact that policosanol is quite inexpensive and is becoming available as a non-prescription dietary supplement, it may represent a practical resource that could enable the general public to enjoy health benefits comparable to those conferred by statins. In a long-term clinical study enrolling patients with significant symptomatic coronary disease, Esselstyn has demonstrated that a low-fat, whole-food vegan diet, coupled with sufficient statin therapy to maintain serum cholesterol below 150 mg/dL, can stop the progression of coronary disease and virtually eliminate further risk for heart attack. A comparable regimen, in which policosanol is used in place of statins, may represent a practical strategy whereby nearly everyone willing to commit to health-protective eating can either prevent coronary disease, or prevent pre-existing coronary disease from progressing to a life-threatening event.

Effects of policosanol in older patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk

BACKGROUND

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of policosanol in older patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and more than one concomitant atherosclerotic risk factor.

METHODS

After 6 weeks on a lipid-lowering diet, 179 patients randomly received a placebo or policosanol at doses of 5 followed by 10 mg per day for successive 12-week periods of each dose. Policosanol (5 and 10 mg/d) significantly (p < .001) reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; 16.9% and 24.4%, respectively) and total cholesterol (TC; 12.8% and 16.2%, respectively), while significantly (p < .01) increasing (p < .001) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by 14.6% and 29.1%, respectively.

RESULTS

Policosanol significantly decreased (p < .01) the ratios of LDL-C to HDL-C (29.1%) and TC to HDL-C (28%) at study completion, although triglycerides remained unchanged. Policosanol, but not the placebo, significantly improved (p .01) cardiovascular capacity, which was assessed using the Specific Activity Scale. No serious adverse experiences occurred in policosanol patients (p < .01), compared with seven adverse experiences (7.9%) reported by placebo patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that policosanol is effective, safe, and well tolerated in older hypercholesterolemic patients.

Antiplatelet and antithrombotic effect of D-003

D-003 is a mixture of higher primary aliphatic saturated acids purified from sugar cane wax whose main component is octacosanoic acid followed by triacontanoic, dotriacontanoic, and tetratriacontanoic acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of D-003 on: ex vivo platelet aggregation, arterial thrombosis and bleeding time in rats. In addition, time course of antiplatelet effects of D-003 was also investigated on ex vivo platelet aggregation in guinea-pigs. D-003 (25-200 mg kg(-1)) orally administered at single or repeated doses (3 days) inhibited platelet aggregation induced by collagen (2.2 microg ml(-1)) and ADP (2 micromol l(-1)) in rats, and collagen (0.25 microg ml(-1)) induced aggregation in guinea-pigs in a dose-dependent manner. Single doses of D-003 (5-500 mg kg(-1)) administered orally 2 h before induction of arterial thrombosis significantly inhibited the reduction of rectal temperature. D-003 administered at a single dose (50-200 mg kg(-1)) 2 h before the experiment significantly increased the bleeding time in a dose-dependent manner. The time-course effects of D-003 on platelet aggregation, arterial thrombus formation, and bleeding time showed no effect 0.5 h after dosing, and maximal effects exhibited 1-2 h after treatment, whereas no significant effects were found 4 h after treatment.

Protective effect of policosanol on atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits with exogenous hypercholesterolemia

Policosanol is a mixture of higher aliphatic alcohols purified from sugar cane wax, with cholesterol-lowering effects demonstrable in experimental models and in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. The protective effects of policosanol on atherosclerotic lesions experimentally induced by lipofundin in rabbits and rats and spontaneously developed in stumptail monkeys have been described. The present study was conducted to determine whether policosanol administered orally to rabbits with exogenous hypercholesterolemia also protects against the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Male New Zealand rabbits weighing 1.5 to 2 kg were randomly divided into three experimental groups which received 25 or 200 mg/kg policosanol (N = 7) orally for 60 days with acacia gum as vehicle or acacia gum alone (control group, N = 9). All animals received a cholesterol-rich diet (0.5%) during the entire period. Control animals developed marked hypercholesterolemia, macroscopic lesions and arterial intimal thickening. Intima thickness was significantly less (32.5 +/- 7 and 25.4 +/- 4 microm) in hypercholesterolemic rabbits treated with policosanol than in controls (57.6 +/- 9 microm). In most policosanol-treated animals, atherosclerotic lesions were not present, and in others, thickness of fatty streaks had less foam cell layers than in controls. We conclude that policosanol has a protective effect on the atherosclerotic lesions occurring in this experimental model.

Effect of policosanol on intimal thickening in rabbit cuffed carotid artery

We studied the effect of policosanol on smooth muscle cell proliferation in the cuffed carotid artery of the rabbit. Policosanol is a mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols isolated from sugar cane wax, with cholesterol lowering effects proved in experimental models and patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. It acts by inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis. The positioning of a nonocclusive silicone collar around the rabbit carotid artery results in the formation of a neointima. We wished to determine whether policosanol orally administered prevented intimal thickening. Collars were placed around the left carotid for 15 days. The contralateral artery was sham operated. We included three experimental groups: a control received vehicle and two others policosanol at 5 and 25 mg Kg until sacrificed. Samples of arteries were examined by light and electron microscopy. To evaluate intimal thickening the cross-sectional area of intima and media were measured. Neointima was significantly reduced in policosanol-treated animals compared with controls. The smooth muscle cell proliferation was studied by the immunohistochemical detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and a significant reduction was observed in policosanol treated rabbits. It is concluded that policosanol has a protective effect on the neointima formation in this experimental model.

Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation and serum levels of arachidonic acid metabolites in healthy volunteers

Policosanol is a cholesterol-lowering drug with hypocholesterolemic effects demonstrated in experimental models, healthy volunteers and patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. In addition, antiplatelet effects of policosanol have been shown in experimental models and healthy volunteers. This study reports the results of a 2-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of policosanol on platelet aggregation and thromboxane B2 and prostacyclin (6 keto PGF1alpha) production after stimulation with collagen in healthy volunteers. The volunteers were on a placebo-baseline period for 7 days and thereafter they received randomly, under double-blind conditions, placebo or policosanol (10 mg/day) for 15 days. Platelet aggregation was determined at baseline and after 15 days of treatment. Significant reductions of arachidonic acid and collagen-induced platelet aggregation were observed. Thromboxane, but not prostacyclin, generation induced by collagen was also inhibited by policosanol.

Multigeneration reproduction study of policosanol in rats

The hypocholesterolaemic drug policosanol was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes throughout three successive generations at concentrations of 0, 5, 50 and 500 mg/kg bw/day by gavage. For each generation two litters were reared until they were at least 3 weeks old. No clinical signs which could be related to the administration of the test substance were observed in the F0, F1b and F2b parents. There were no differences among groups in the number of animals that conceived, the number of pups born live or dead, the rate of male to female pups, the number of pups that survived until weaning and the pups' body weights through the lactancy. The following test showed no treatment-related effects on F3b offspring: righting on a surface, air righting, corneal, pirmal and pain reflexes, auditory startle and visual placing. The results of the present study did not demonstrate any deleterious effects on the fertility, reproductive performance or development of rats administered policosanol at levels of up to 500 mg/kg bw/day over three successive generations.

Carcinogenicity of policosanol in mice: an 18-month study

Policosanol (trade name Ateromixol) is a new cholesterol-lowering drug that has been isolated and purified from sugar cane wax. The effects of policosanol (50-500 mg/kg) administered orally for 18 months to male and female Swiss mice were investigated. No differences in daily clinical observations, weight gain, food consumption and mortality (survival analysis) between groups were found. Histopathological study showed that the frequency of neoplastic (benign and malignant) lesions was similar in the control and policosanol-treated groups. The lesions observed were similar to the spontaneous lesions in Swiss mice reported in previous studies. As no drug-related increase in the occurrence of malignant or benign neoplasm was found, nor acceleration in tumour growth in any specific group observed, this study shows no evidence of policosanol-induced carcinogenicity in Swiss mice.

Effect of policosanol on lipofundin-induced atherosclerotic lesions in rats

Policosanol is a mixture of higher aliphatic alcohols isolated from sugar cane wax, showing cholesterol-lowering effects and preventing the development of lipofundin-induced lesions in New Zealand rabbits. This study was conducted to determine whether policosanol orally administered to rats also protects against the development of lipofundin-induced atherosclerotic lesions. Fifty four male Wistar rats were randomly distributed amongst a negative control group, a positive control group intravenously injected with lipofundin for eight days, and four experimental groups also injected with lipofundin, but orally receiving policosanol at 0.5, 2.5, 5 and 25 mg kg-1, respectively. Policosanol treatment was orally administered once-a-day for eight days, while control groups similarly received equivalent amounts of vehicle. A significant reduction of the atherosclerotic lesions in the treated animals was observed. It is concluded that policosanol has a protective effect on lipofundin-induced aortic lesions in Wistar rats.

Carcinogenicity of policosanol in Sprague Dawley rats: a 24 month study

The effects of policosanol (50-500 mg/kg) administered orally for 24 months to Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes were investigated. No differences related to daily clinical observations, weight gain, food consumption, or mortality (survival analysis) between groups were found. Histopathological study showed that the frequency of the occurrence of non-neoplastic and neoplastic (benign and malignant) lesions was similar in the control and policosanol-treated groups. The lesions observed in this study were similar to the spontaneous lesions reported in this species in previous studies. Since no drug-related increase in the occurrence of malignant or benign neoplasms was found, nor acceleration in tumors growth in any specific group was observed, this study shows no evidence of policosanol induced carcinogenicity in this strain of rats.