Sugar cane policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in primitive, diet-resistant hypercholesterolaemia: a double blind, controlled study.

Previous clinical studies have shown that oral administration of sugar cane policosanol (SCP) reduces plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. A double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial was performed in hypercholesterolaemic, diet-resistant patients. Seventy patients meeting the selection criteria were enrolled. Each subject was treated with policosanol 10 mg/d in addition to a dietetic regimen for 8 weeks. At the start and at the end of the study body weight, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) plasma levels were measured. Thirty-three subjects in the policosanol and Thirty-one subjects in the control group completed the study. During the study body mass index, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels did not change significantly within and between groups. In conclusion, sugar cane policosanol at a dose of 10mg/d showed no lipid lowering effects in subjects with primitive, diet-resistant hypercholesterolaemia.