Efficacy and tolerability of coenzyme A vs pantethine for the treatment of patients with hyperlipidemia: A randomized, double-blind, multicenter study

• CoA can effectively reduce plasma triglyceride levels in subjects with moderate dyslipidemia.
• CoA can improve triglyceride levels to a greater extent than pantethine.
• CoA was associated with significant reductions in total cholesterol and non–high-density lipoprotein levels.
• Both CoA and pantethine have no obvious adverse effect.

BackgroundNew, safer, and more effective agents to treat hyperlipidemia and thereby prevent cardiovascular events are under research.ObjectiveTo evaluate the lipid-lowering effects and safety of a natural hypolipidemic compound, coenzyme A (CoA) capsule, in Chinese patients with moderate dyslipidemia, compared with pantethine.MethodsOverall, 216 subjects (124 males and 92 females; age, 18–75 years) with moderate dyslipidemia (triglyceride [TG], 2.3–6.5 mmol/L) were randomly divided into 2 groups administered CoA 400 U/d (n = 111) or pantethine 600 U/d (n = 105). Blood lipoproteins, liver and renal function, blood glucose, and complete blood count were measured at baseline and after 4- and 8-week treatment.ResultsTG reduction was 26.0% with CoA and 17.4% with pantethine after 4 weeks and 33.3% and 16.5% after 8 weeks; compared with baseline, the reduction was significant (P < .01) in both groups. The difference between the 2 groups was significant at both 4 weeks (P = .0413) and 8 weeks (P < .001). Compared with baseline, total cholesterol and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non–HDL-C) were reduced, whereas HDL-C was increased with CoA after 8 weeks (all P < .05). Compared with pantethine, total cholesterol (P = .026) and non–HDL-C (P = .005) were significantly reduced after 8 weeks of CoA treatment. There was no statistical difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or HDL-C between the 2 groups (P > .05) and no difference in blood glucose, hepatic or renal function, myopathy, or gastrointestinal tract symptoms.ConclusionsCoA can improve TG and other lipoprotein parameters to a greater extent than pantethine in moderate dyslipidemia, with no obvious adverse effects.