Improvement in Lipid Profile after Long-term Consumption of Policosanol Accompanied by Reduced Oxidation of LDL and Aortic Stiffness via CETP Inhibition in Healthy Middle-aged Women
OD12-OD14
Correspondence
Dr. Kyung-Hyun Cho,
Department of Medical Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk-712749, South Korea.
E-mail: chok@yu.ac.kr
Cuban Policosanol (PCO) was reported to lower serum Total Cholesterol (TC) as well as increase High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) and enhance HDL functionality. In this study, we compared changes in the blood lipid and lipoprotein profiles in hypercholesterolemic women subjects (50-year-old) who consumed policosanol for 20 weeks. At week 0, subject had high TC but low HDL-C levels. After 20 weeks of policosanol consumption, serum TC and Triglyceride (TG) levels were reduced by 10% and 44%, respectively. HDL-C level was elevated 1.7-fold while Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) level was reduced by up to 20%. Serum Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein (CETP) activity was reduced from 33% CE-transfer at week 0 to 22% CE-transfer at week 20. Glycation extent was significantly reduced in all lipoprotein fractions, especially in LDL and HDL2. In Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and LDL, cholesterol and TG contents were reduced. In HDL2 and HDL3, cholesterol was more enriched and TG content reduced. LDL was more resistant to cupric ion-mediated oxidation and showed less atherogenic properties via phagocytosis into macrophages. Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) was more enriched in HDL2 and HDL3 in a time-dependent manner. The antioxidant ability of HDL was enhanced by 25% in terms of ferric ion reduction ability and paraoxonase activity. In conclusion, 20 weeks of policosanol consumption improved the lipid profile by increasing HDL-C, and lipoprotein functionality to enhance antioxidant, anti-glycation, and anti-atherogenic properties via CETP inhibition.