A triple-blinded placebo and diet-controlled investigation
Evans M, Rumberger JA, et al
Vasc Health Risk Manag, 2014 Feb 27; 10: 89-100.
PubMed Reference
Journal Reference
In a randomized, triple=blinded, placebo-controlled study involving patients with low to moderate risk of cardiovascular disease eligible for statin therapy, supplementation with pantethine – a derivative of vitamin B5 – (600 mg/d from weeks 1-8 and 900 mg/d from weeks 9-16) – was found to be associated with an 11% decreases in LDL-cholesterol at week 8 and week 12 that reached significance at week 16, as compared to a 3% reduction at week 16 found in the placebo group. Furthermore, subjects who received the pantethine were found to have a significant reduction in total cholesterol at week 16, as compared to placebo. No significant changes in homocysteine levels were found. Interestingly, coenzyme Q10 levels increased from baseline to week 5 and remained elevated until week 16 in both groups. At the end of the 16 weeks, subjects in the placebo group did not show any reduction in CVD risk factors. The authors conclude, “This study confirms that pantethine lowers cardiovascular risk markers in low to moderate CVD risk participants eligible for statins according to NCEP guidelines.”
Abstract
High serum concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease. The efficacy of pantethine treatment on cardiovascular risk markers was investigated in a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled study, in a low to moderate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk North American population eligible for statin therapy, using the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. A total of 32 subjects were randomized to pantethine (600 mg/day from weeks 1 to 8 and 900 mg/day from weeks 9 to16) or placebo. Compared with placebo, the participants on pantethine showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol at 16 weeks (P=0.040) and LDL-C at 8 and 16 weeks (P=0.020 and P=0.006, respectively), and decreasing trends in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at week 8 and week 12 (P=0.102 and P=0.145, respectively) that reached significance by week 16 (P=0.042). An 11% decrease in LDL-C from baseline was seen in participants on pantethine, at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16, while participants on placebo showed a 3% increase at week 16. This decrease was significant between groups at weeks 8 (P=0.027) and 16 (P=0.010). The homocysteine levels for both groups did not change significantly from baseline to week 16. Coenzyme Q10 significantly increased from baseline to week 4 and remained elevated until week 16, in both the pantethine and placebo groups. After 16 weeks, the participants on placebo did not show significant improvement in any CVD risk end points. This study confirms that pantethine lowers cardiovascular risk markers in low to moderate CVD risk participants eligible for statins according to NCEP guidelines.