Policosanol for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia
Tracking Information | |||||
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First Received Date ICMJE | November 16, 2005 | ||||
Last Updated Date | November 17, 2005 | ||||
Start Date ICMJE | January 2005 | ||||
Primary Completion Date | |||||
Current Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE |
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Original Primary Outcome Measures ICMJE | Same as current | ||||
Change History | Complete list of historical versions of study NCT00255216 on ClinicalTrials.gov Archive Site | ||||
Current Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE |
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Original Secondary Outcome Measures ICMJE | Same as current | ||||
Current Other Outcome Measures ICMJE | |||||
Original Other Outcome Measures ICMJE | |||||
Descriptive Information | |||||
Brief Title ICMJE | Policosanol for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia | ||||
Official Title ICMJE | Policosanol for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia | ||||
Brief Summary | Policosanol, a compound derived from sugar cane wax and available in health food stores across the United States, is a popular non-prescription product for treating hypercholesterolemia. Virtually all of the published medical literature on policosanol has been authored by research groups in Cuba. This study will assess the short-term safety and efficacy of policosanol in healthy adults who have a baseline LDL-C of 130-200. The recruitment population will be derived from primary care clinics consisting primarily of Caucasian and African-American patients. The primary outcome measurements will be the percentage change in LDL-C. Secondary outcomes will include changes in total cholesterol, HDL-C, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein sub-particles. This will be the first known randomized clinical trial of policosanol in North America. The data derived from this pilot study regarding the lipid lowering effects of policosanol will be used to support applications for further funding through institutions outside the Carolinas Healthcare System including the National Institute of Health (NIH). Specific Aim: To independently corroborate the lipid lowering effects of policosanol in a small pilot study. |
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Detailed Description | Policosanol, a compound derived from sugar cane wax and available in health food stores across the United States, is a popular non-prescription product for treating hypercholesterolemia. Policosanol has been used in Cuba since 1991 to treat high cholesterol. Virtually all of the published medical literature on policosanol has been authored by research groups in Cuba. According to the Cuban data, policosanol can lower total cholesterol, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and raise high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Based on post-marketing surveys, this drug appears to be devoid of any biochemical, hematological, or clinical adverse effects. Confirmation of this data on policosanol by scientifically rigorous experiments and trials in this country would provide a safe and effective therapeutic option for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Consequently, policosanol has the potential to become a valuable tool in the fight against coronary heart disease – a major cause of mortality in the United States. This pilot study will assess the short-term safety and efficacy of policosanol in healthy adults who have a baseline LDL-C of 130-200. The recruitment population will be derived from primary care clinics consisting primarily of Caucasian and African-American patients. The primary outcome measurements will be the percentage change in LDL-C. Secondary outcomes will include changes in total cholesterol, HDL-C, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and lipoprotein sub-particles. This will be the first known randomized clinical trial of policosanol in North America. The data derived from this pilot study regarding the lipid lowering effects of policosanol will be used to support applications for further funding through institutions outside the Carolinas Healthcare System including the National Institute of Health (NIH). Future studies could include an assessment of the effects of policosanol on other markers for coronary heart disease and potential use in combination with current lipid medications. The overall goal is to perform a large multi-center clinical outcome trial to establish the precise clinical benefits of policosanol. Summary: Demonstration of the lipid-lowering ability of policosanol is an initial step in providing a safe, cost-effective therapy for hypercholesterolemia, thereby advancing the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease in this country. Specific Aim: To independently corroborate the lipid lowering effects of policosanol in a small pilot study. Hypotheses: After 8 weeks of therapy policosanol 40 mg/day will:
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Study Type ICMJE | Interventional | ||||
Study Phase | |||||
Study Design ICMJE | Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double-Blind Primary Purpose: Treatment |
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Condition ICMJE | Hyperlipidemia | ||||
Intervention ICMJE | Drug: Policosanol supplement (oral capsule) vs. placebo | ||||
Study Arm (s) | |||||
Publications * | |||||
* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number) in Medline. |
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Recruitment Information | |||||
Recruitment Status ICMJE | Completed | ||||
Enrollment ICMJE | 40 | ||||
Completion Date | August 2005 | ||||
Primary Completion Date | |||||
Eligibility Criteria ICMJE | Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
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Gender | Both | ||||
Ages | 18 Years and older | ||||
Accepts Healthy Volunteers | Yes | ||||
Contacts ICMJE | Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects | ||||
Location Countries ICMJE | United States | ||||
Administrative Information | |||||
NCT Number ICMJE | NCT00255216 | ||||
Other Study ID Numbers ICMJE | Poli-01 | ||||
Has Data Monitoring Committee | |||||
Responsible Party | |||||
Study Sponsor ICMJE | Carolinas Healthcare System | ||||
Collaborators ICMJE | |||||
Investigators ICMJE |
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Information Provided By | Carolinas Healthcare System | ||||
Verification Date | October 2005 | ||||
ICMJE Data element required by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors and the World Health Organization ICTRP |