EFFECTS OF POLICOSANOL IN ELDERLY HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC PATIENTS

Abstract Policosanol, a new cholesterol-lowering agent, was administered to outpatients ages 60 to 85 years (mean age, 73 years) with primary hypercholesterolemia. The patients were assigned in a single-blind fashion to receive either placebo (n = 8), policosanol 1 mg (n = 12), or policosanol 10 mg (n = 6) once daily in the evening for 24 weeks. Total cholesterol decreased by 16.4% in the policosanol 1 mg group and by 22.1% in the policosanol 10 mg group; in the placebo group, total cholesterol increased by 5.2%. Clinical examination and biochemical data showed no significant differences among the three groups. No drug-related adverse effects were observed. These results indicate that, in elderly patients, policosanol is an effective and well-tolerated cholesterol-lowering drug.