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