A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF POLICOSANOL VERSUS PROBUCOL IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Thirty patients with type II primary hypercholesterolemia were enrolle d in a randomized, double-masked, parallel comparative study of polico sanol-a newer cholesterol-lowering agent obtained from sugar cane wax- and probucol. Prior to randomization, all patients started or continue d on a standard, first-step cholesterol-lowering diet for 6 weeks. Pat ients were randomized to receive either policosanol (5 mg twice daily) or probucol (500 mg twice daily) for 8 weeks. Both groups were simila r at randomization. With policosanol, total cholesterol, low-density l ipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides decreased significan tly by 18.0%, 22.7%, and 16.2%, respectively, In addition, policosanol significantly lowered the ratios of total cholesterol:high-density li poprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and LDL-C:HDL-C, by 20.8% and 25.5%, res pectively. Probucol significantly lowered total cholesterol (7.8%) and LDL-C (11.8%), as well as the ratios of LDL-C:HDL-C (15.0%) and total cholesterol:HDL-C (11.4%), Neither policosanol nor probucol treatment significantly changed HDL-C levels. Both drugs were well tolerated; n o patient withdrew from the trial. Adverse experiences reported were m ild and did not differ significantly between groups. It is concluded t hat both drugs are adequate alternatives for treating patients with ty pe II hypercholesterolemia, with policosanol being more effective than probucol in this short-term study.