EFFECT OF POLICOSANOL ON PLATELET-AGGREGATION AND SERUM LEVELS OF ARACHIDONIC-ACID METABOLITES IN HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS

Policosanol is a cholesterol-lowering drug with hypocholesterolemic ef fects demonstrated in experimental models, healthy volunteers and pati ents with type II hypercholesterolemia. In addition, antiplatelet effe cts of policosanol have been shown in experimental models and healthy volunteers. This study reports the results of a 2-week, randomized, do uble-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of poli cosanol on platelet aggregation and thromboxane B-2 and prostacyclin ( 6 keto PGF(1 alpha)) production after stimulation with collagen in hea lthy volunteers. The volunteers were on a placebo-baseline period for 7 days and thereafter they received randomly, under double-blind condi tions, placebo or policosanol (10 mg/day) for 15 days. Platelet aggreg ation was determined at baseline and after 15 days of treatment. Signi ficant reductions of arachidonic acid and collagen-induced platelet ag gregation were observed. Thromboxane, but not prostacyclin, generation induced by collagen was also inhibited by policosanol.