Original scientific paper
Rice Policosanol Does Not Have Any Effects on Blood Coagulation Factors in Hypercholesterolemic Patients
Željko Reiner
Eugenia Tedeschi-Reiner
Abstract
Policosanol is an agent that includes mixtures of aliphatic primary alcohols extracted primarily from sugercane wax.
Policosanol has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol in animal models, healthy volunteers and hypercholesterolemic
patients. However, these findings have been challanged recently. Up to now, there has been no study investigating
the effects of policosanol on blood coagulation factors.This study investigated the effects of rice policosanol (Oryza
sp.) 10 mg/day on blood coagulation factors in 66 hypercholesterolemic patients of both sexes aged 20 to 78 years in a single
center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. After an 8-week run-in period in which patients
were placed on therapeutic lifestyle changes, in particular a cholesterol-lowering diet, they were randomly assigned to receive
rice policosanol 10 mg tablets or placebo tablets once daily with the evening meal for 8 weeks. During next 8 weeks
those receiving policosanol during the first 8 weeks, received placebo and those taking placebo during the first 8 weeks,
received policosanol. Plasma fibrinogen, factors VII,VIII, XII and XIII were measured before and after the treatment.
Rice policosanol treatment did not change significantly neither fibrinogen nor factors VII,VIII, XII and XIII.
Keywords
policosanol; hypercholesterolemia; fibrinogen; factor VII; factor VIII; factor XII; factor XIII
Hrčak ID:
26945
URI
Publication date:
3.12.2007.
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