Consumption of policosanol enhances HDL functionality via CETP inhibition and reduces blood pressure and visceral fat in young and middle-aged subjects

Abstract

It is well-known that policosanol can improve serum lipid profiles, although the physiological mechanism is still unknown. Here, we investigated functional and structural changes in lipoproteins after consumption of policosanol. To investigate the physiological effect of policosanol, we analyzed serum parameters in young non-smoker (YN; n=7, 24.0±2.4 years), young smoker (YS; n=7, 26.3±1.5 years), and middle-aged subjects (MN; n=11, 52.5±9.8 years) who consumed policosanol daily (10 mg/day) for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, systolic blood pressure was significantly lowered to 4% (7 mmHg, p=0.022) from initial levels in the YS and MN groups. Moisture content of facial skin increased up to 38 and 18% from initial levels in the YS and MN groups, respectively. Serum triglyceride (TG) levels decreased to 28 and 26% from initial levels in the YN and MN groups, respectively. The percentage of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in total cholesterol was elevated in all subjects (YN, 36%; YS, 35%; MN, 8%) after 8 weeks of policosanol consumption. All groups showed a reduction in serum glucose and uric acid levels. Serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was significantly diminished up to 21 and 32% from initial levels in the YN and MN groups, respectively. After 8 weeks, oxidation of the low-density lipoprotein fraction was markedly reduced accompanied by decreased apolipoprotein B (apoB) fragmentation. In the HDL fraction, paraoxonase activity was elevated by 17% along with elevation of apoA-I and cholesterol contents. Electron microscopy revealed that the size and number of HDL particles increased after 8 weeks, and the YS group showed a 2-fold increase in particle size. Daily consumption of policosanol for 8 weeks resulted in lowered blood pressure, reduced serum TG level and CETP activity, and elevated HDL-C contents. These functional enhancements of HDL can prevent and/or attenuate aging-related diseases, hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Long-Term Consumption of Cuban Policosanol Lowers Central and Brachial Blood Pressure and Improves Lipid Profile With Enhancement of Lipoprotein Properties in Healthy Korean Participants

“…There are a limited number of approaches to increasing HDL-C quantity comprising dietary foods or drugs to elevate the concentration of HDL-C and enhance HDL functionality (Sahebkar et al, 2016 ). Cuban policosanol (PCO) was reported to lower TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as increase HDL-C levels by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and increasing LDL-C excretion (Janikula, 2002 ; Lee et al, 2016 ; Kim et al, 2017 ).…”

“…Policosanol potentiates the beneficial functions of HDL as well as its antioxidant, anti-glycation, and anti-atherosclerotic activities (Lee et al, 2016 ; Kim et al, 2017 ). Although short-term consumption of policosanol has been shown to reduce brachial blood pressure (BP) accompanied by increased HDL-C concentration and antioxidative functionality, correlations of BP reduction with enhancement of HDL-C in TC remain to be investigated in a long-term study.…”

“…A previous study reported that short-term consumption of policosanol enhanced HDL-C particle size, and reconstituted HDL (rHDL) containing policosanol increased cholesterol efflux capacity via up-regulation of ABCA1 for excretion (Kim et al, 2017 ). Although there are inconsistent data related to the efficacy of lowering cholesterol with policosanol therapy (Cubeddu et al, 2006 ; Francini-Pesenti et al, 2008 ), Gong et al ( 2018 ) in a recent meta-analysis comprising 22 studies reported that policosanol could be used to lower lipid content and as a safe drug to elevate HDL-C levels (Gong et al, 2018 ).…”

Nutrition and Nutritional Supplements in the Management of Dyslipidemia—Part 2

“…1,64 More recent double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials have not shown any significant improvement in any measured lipids, including TC, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C. A recent small study (14 subjects, underpowered) suggested that policosanol may improve HDL-C functionality, increase PON, lower glucose, reduce uric acid, decrease blood pressure and the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde, and improve the lipid profile. 63 Other studies have found that policosanol may enhance the effects of statins and improve hepatic function. 66 Policosanol is not recommended at this time for the treatment of any form of dyslipidemia, pending more definitive studies with a larger study population.…”

“…Policosanol is a sugar-cane extract of eight aliphatic alcohols that has undergone extensive clinical studies with variable results. 1,[63][64][65][66] Most of the earlier studies that showed positive results were performed in Cuba, and their validity has been questioned. 1,64 More recent double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials have not shown any significant improvement in any measured lipids, including TC, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C. A recent small study (14 subjects, underpowered) suggested that policosanol may improve HDL-C functionality, increase PON, lower glucose, reduce uric acid, decrease blood pressure and the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde, and improve the lipid profile.…”