Preclinical Study Suggests Potential Benefits of Cuban Policosanol in Statin Combination

SINGAPORE, March 20, 2026 — A recent
preclinical study has reported that the combination of atorvastatin and Cuban
policosanol may offer enhanced lipid profile modulation compared to
atorvastatin alone. The findings were published in the latest issue of the
SCI-indexed journal Pharmaceuticals.

Statins remain a
widely used standard approach for managing cholesterol levels globally.
However, ongoing research continues to explore complementary strategies that
may support lipid metabolism and overall physiological balance during long-term
use.

In this 12-week
study, researchers used a zebrafish model induced with hyperlipidemia and
hyperglycemia to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin, Cuban policosanol, and
their combination. A total of 112 zebrafish were divided into four groups:
control, atorvastatin-only, policosanol-only, and combination consumption.

The results showed
that the combination group demonstrated a greater reduction in total
cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol compared to the atorvastatin-only
group. In addition, HDL cholesterol
levels significantly
increased by 1.3-fold in the combination group compared to the control group. HDL cholesterol is
commonly referred to as “good cholesterol” due to its role in supporting cardiovascular
health.

The study also
reported changes in several biological markers. The combination group showed
reduced levels of inflammatory indicators in liver tissue and changes in
markers associated with lipid accumulation. In brain and retinal tissues,
markers related to inflammation and cellular aging were also observed to be
lower in the combination group.

Dr. Kyung Hyun Cho,
the lead researcher of the study, commented, “These findings suggest that Cuban
policosanol, when used in combination with statins, may offer complementary
effects in lipid metabolism and related biological processes.”

The full study is available online at: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/19/2/237

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES