RESUMO

The current study was designed to investigate the short-term effects of policosanol consumption on blood pressure (BP) and the lipid parameters in healthy Korean participants with prehypertension. A total of 84 healthy participants were randomly allocated to three groups receiving placebo, 10 mg of policosanol, or 20 mg of policosanol for 12 weeks. Based on an average of three measurements of peripheral BP, the policosanol 20 mg group exhibited the most significant reduction, that is, up to 7.7% reduction of average systolic BP (SBP) from 136.3 ± 6.1 mmHg (week 0) to 125.9 ± 8.6 mmHg (week 12, p < 0.001). Between group comparisons using repeated measures ANOVA showed that the policosanol 20 mg group had a significant reduction of SBP at 12 weeks (p = 0.020) and a reduction of diastolic BP (DBP) at 8 weeks (p = 0.041) and 12 weeks (p = 0.035). The policosanol 10 mg and 20 mg groups showed significant reductions in aortic SBP of 7.4% and 8.3%, respectively. The policosanol groups showed significant reductions of total cholesterol (TC) of 9.6% and 8.6% and low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C) of 21% and 18% for 10 mg and 20 mg of policosanol, respectively. Between group comparisons using repeated measures ANOVA showed that the policosanol (10 mg and 20 mg) groups at 12 weeks had a significant reduction of TC (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.001) and LDL-C (p = 0.00005 and p = 0.0001) and elevation of %HDL-C (p = 0.048 and p = 0.014). In conclusion, 12-week consumption of policosanol resulted in significant reductions of peripheral SBP and DBP, aortic SBP and DBP, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and serum TC and LDL-C with elevation of % HDL-C.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [...].

RESUMO

Policosanol has been reported to improve blood pressure, lipid profile, and HDL functionality via inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) both in vitro and in vivo in zebrafish and human models. However, there are limited reports and randomized, double-blinded trials on policosanol that could advocate the blood pressure-lowering effect in prehypertensive participants. Therefore, we performed in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experiments to provide more substantial and concrete data on the blood pressure-lowering effect of policosanol. Consumption of policosanol for 8 weeks enhanced plasma antioxidant activity. In the policosanol group, plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were reduced up to 20% and 14%, respectively, and HDL-C level was elevated up to 1.3-fold compared to that at week 0. TG/HDL-C and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activities were reduced up to 36% and 20%, respectively. Uptake of oxidized LDL in macrophages was reduced as oxidized species levels were reduced, and HDL2-associated paraoxonase activities were enhanced by 60% compared to those at week 0. Encapsulation of policosanol into reconstituted HDL (PCO-rHDL) enhanced cholesterol efflux activity and insulin secretion capacity. In conclusion, consumption of policosanol for 8 weeks in healthy female subjects resulted in lowered blood pressure and CETP activity via elevation of HDL/apoA-I contents and enhancement of HDL functionalities, including cholesterol efflux and insulin secretion. These functional enhancements of HDL can contribute to the prevention of aging-related diseases, hypertension, and stroke.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Metabolic syndrome is closely associated with higher risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and stroke. The aim of the present study was to investigate the long-term effects of policosanol supplementation on blood pressure (BP) and the lipid profile in healthy Korean participants with pre-hypertension (systolic 120-139 mmHg, diastolic 85-89 mmHg). This randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled trial included 84 healthy participants who were randomly assigned to three groups receiving 10 mg of policosanol, 20 mg of policosanol, or placebo for 24 weeks. The BP, lipid profile, and anthropometric factors were measured pre- and post-intervention and then compared. Based on an average of three measurements of brachial BP, the policosanol 20 mg group showed the most significant reduction in average systolic BP (SBP) from 138 ± 12 mmHg at week 0 to 126 ± 13 mmHg at week 24 (p < 0.0001). The policosanol 20 mg group also showed significant reductions in aortic SBP and DBP up to 9% (p = 0.00057) and 8% (p = 0.004), respectively compared with week 0. Additionally, blood renin and aldosterone levels were significantly reduced in the policosanol 20 mg group up to 63% (p < 0.01) and 42% (p < 0.05), respectively, at week 24. For the blood lipid profile, the policosanol 10 mg and 20 mg groups showed significant reductions in total cholesterol (TC) of around 8% (p = 0.029) and 13% (p = 0.0004), respectively, at week 24 compared with week 0. Serum HDL-C level significantly increased up to 16% and 12% in the policosanol 10 mg (p = 0.002) and 20 mg (p = 0.035) group, respectively. The study results suggest that long-term policosanol consumption simultaneously reduces peripheral BP as well as aortic BP accompanied by elevation of HDL-C and % HDL-C in TC in a dose-dependent manner.

RESUMO

We investigated the antihypertensive effect of policosanol on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). For this, we analyzed blood pressure, blood lipid, and lipoprotein properties in male SHR after consumption of Cuban policosanol (PCO). The experimental groups were as follows: normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) control, SHR group fed normal diet (ND), SHR group fed 20 mg of PCO, SHR group fed 100 mg of PCO, and SHR group fed 200 mg of PCO per kg of body weight. After eight weeks, the SHR control group showed gradual increases up to 21% in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared with values at week 0. However, policosanol consumption had a dose-dependent reduction effect on SBP and also reduced DBP up to 17% in a dose-dependent manner. Heart rate (HR) bpm increased by six percent in the SHR control, whereas the 20 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg of policosanol groups showed a reduction of 36%, 28%, and 34% respectively. Although serum total cholesterol (TC) level of SHR was not affected by policosanol consumption (70⁻80 mg/dL), serum triglyceride (TG) level significantly decreased in the SHR + 200 mg of PCO group. Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was also significantly elevated by policosanol consumption. The % HDL-C/TC ratio was elevated in the policosanol group up to 67⁻70%, whereas the SHR control group showed a ratio of 58%. Serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity was reduced by policosanol in a dose-dependent manner. Although the serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT)/ glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were similar across all groups, policosanol consumption caused reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in hepatic tissue. The SHR control group showed a 2.1-fold higher serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level than the WKY group, whereas the CRP level decreased in the SHR + 200 mg of PCO group (up to 45%) than SHR control group. Aldosterone level was reduced in the policosanol group (up to 34%) in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control. In conclusion, eight weeks of policosanol consumption in SHR resulted in remarkable reduction of blood pressure, serum aldosterone, and serum TG levels along with the elevation of HDL-C and improvement of hepatic inflammation.

Assuntos