Effects of policosanol in hypertensive patients with type II hypercholesterolemia

The results of a 1-year, multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol administered at 10 mg daily in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and hypertension treated with beta-blockers, diuretics, or calcium antagonists are reported. The trial included 58 patients with total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels not controlled sufficiently during a 12-week diet-only period. Two months after initiating therapy, treatment with policosanol significantly reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, and ratios of LDL-C:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total cholesterol:HDL-C. The treatment effect on these efficacy variables was maintained during the 1-year follow-up. Thus 12 months after therapy reductions of 19.1% in LDL-C, 13.0% in total cholesterol, 20.0% in total cholesterol:HDL-C, and 24.2% in LDL-C:HDL-C had been obtained. No changes in any lipid profile variables were seen in the placebo group throughout the study. At the end of the therapy, policosanol had increased HDL-C significantly (17.1%), while triglycerides did not change significantly. No patient withdrew from the study and no drug-related clinical or biochemical side effects were observed. Only two patients (one in each group) reported mild adverse events.