Octacosanol has various biological effects such as antioxidant, hypolipidemic and anti-fatigue. However, poor solubility has limited the application of octacosanol in food. The aim of this study was to prepare octacosanol nanoemulsions with better solubility, stability and safety and to investigate in vivo anti-fatigue effect. The food-grade formulation of the octacosanol nanoemulsions consisted of octacosanol, olive oil, Tween 80, glycerol and water with 0.1 %, 1.67 %, 23.75 %, 7.92 % and 66.65 % (w/w), respectively. The nanoemulsions had an average particle size of 12.26 ± 0.76 nm and polydispersity index of 0.164 ± 0.12, and showed good stability under different pH, cold, heat, ionic stress and long-term storage conditions. The results of animal experiments showed that the octacosanol nanoemulsions significantly prolonged the fatigue tolerance time, alleviated the fatigue-related biochemical indicators, and weakened the oxidative stress. Meanwhile, octacosanol nanoemulsions upregulated hepatic glycogen levels. Taken together, these findings suggested that octacosanol nanoemulsions have promising applications as anti-fatigue functional foods.

Policosanol is a mixture of long-chain aliphatic alcohols (LCAAs) derived from various plant and insect origins that are marketed by various companies with distinct formulations and brand names. Policosanols offer several beneficial effects to treat dyslipidemia and hypertension; however, a comprehensive functionality comparison of various policosanol brands has yet to be thoroughly explored. In the present study five distinct policosanol brands from different origins and countries, Raydel-policosanol, Australia (PCO1), Solgar-policosanol, USA (PCO2), NutrioneLife-monacosanol, South Korea (PCO3), Mothernest-policosanol, Australia (PCO4), and Peter & John-policosanol, New Zealand (PCO5) were compared via dietary supplementation (1% in diet, final wt/wt) to zebrafish for six weeks to investigate their impact on survivability, blood lipid profile, and functionality of vital organs under the influence of a high-cholesterol diet (HCD, final 4%, wt/wt). The results revealed that policosanol brands (PCO1-PCO5) had a substantial preventive effect against HCD-induced zebrafish body weight elevation and hyperlipidemia by alleviating total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in blood. Other than PCO3, all the brands significantly reduced the HCD\'s elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). On the contrary, only PCO1 displayed a significant elevation in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level against the consumption of HCD. The divergent effect of PCO1-PCO5 against HCD-induced hepatic damage biomarkers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), was observed. PCO1, PCO2, and PCO4 efficiently curtailed the AST and ALT levels; however, PCO3 and PCO5 potentially aggravated the HCD\'s elevated plasma AST and ALT levels. Consistently, the hepatic histology outcome revealed the least effectiveness of PCO3 and PCO5 against HCD-induced liver damage. On the contrary, PCO1 exhibited a substantial hepatoprotective role by curtailing HCD-induced fatty liver changes, cellular senescent, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. Likewise, the histological outcome from the kidney, testis, and ovary revealed the significant curative effect of PCO1 against the HCD-induced adverse effects. PCO2-PCO5 showed diverse and unequal results, with the least effective being PCO3, followed by PCO5 towards HCD-induced kidney, testis, and ovary damage. The multivariate interpretation based on principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) validated the superiority of PCO1 over other policosanol brands against the clinical manifestation associated with HCD. Conclusively, different brands displayed distinct impacts against HCD-induced adverse effects, signifying the importance of policosanol formulation and the presence of aliphatic alcohols on the functionality of policosanol products.

Demand for sustainable animal and aquaculture production drives the exploration of novel feed additives. We highlight octacosanol, a long-chain alcohol from plant sources, as a promising multifunctional feed additive. The review comprehensively evaluates octacosanol\'s applications in animal and aquaculture nutrition, including its molecular properties and mechanisms of action. It elucidates how octacosanol affects lipid metabolism, energy utilization and immune modulation. Octacosanol enhances livestock growth, efficiency, carcass quality and stress resilience. We thoroughly discuss how it enhances feed utilization, disease resistance and overall performance in finfish and shellfish in aquaculture. The review also addresses the ecological and sustainability aspects of octacosanol utilization. We identify challenges and knowledge gaps in octacosanol research, prompting suggestions for future investigations. We address regulatory considerations, dosage optimization and potential interactions with other feed additives to ensure the safe and effective use of octacosanol. In conclusion, the review highlights octacosanol\'s potential as a versatile feed additive in the animal and aquaculture industries and urges further research to uncover its benefits and sustainability contributions, proposing a prospective research plan for this purpose. This thorough analysis is a valuable resource for researchers, nutritionists and industry professionals looking to find innovative methods to improve production practices and advance sustainable food systems.

Despite their subordination in humans, to a great extent, mitochondria maintain their independent status but tightly cooperate with the \"host\" on protecting the joint life quality and minimizing health risks. Under oxidative stress conditions, healthy mitochondria promptly increase mitophagy level to remove damaged \"fellows\" rejuvenating the mitochondrial population and sending fragments of mtDNA as SOS signals to all systems in the human body. As long as metabolic pathways are under systemic control and well-concerted together, adaptive mechanisms become triggered increasing systemic protection, activating antioxidant defense and repair machinery. Contextually, all attributes of mitochondrial patho-/physiology are instrumental for predictive medical approach and cost-effective treatments tailored to individualized patient profiles in primary (to protect vulnerable individuals again the health-to-disease transition) and secondary (to protect affected individuals again disease progression) care. Nutraceuticals are naturally occurring bioactive compounds demonstrating health-promoting, illness-preventing, and other health-related benefits. Keeping in mind health-promoting properties of nutraceuticals along with their great therapeutic potential and safety profile, there is a permanently growing demand on the application of mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals. Application of nutraceuticals is beneficial only if meeting needs at individual level. Therefore, health risk assessment and creation of individualized patient profiles are of pivotal importance followed by adapted nutraceutical sets meeting individual needs. Based on the scientific evidence available for mitochondria-relevant nutraceuticals, this article presents examples of frequent medical conditions, which require protective measures targeted on mitochondria as a holistic approach following advanced concepts of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3PM) in primary and secondary care.

UNASSIGNED: The uneven lipid-lowering statin effects and statin intolerance raise interest regarding the involvement of coadministration of statins and dietary supplements. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of octacosanol supplementation on markers of redox status in cardiovascular patients on chronic atorvastatin therapy.
UNASSIGNED: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-centre study was conducted. Redox status homeostasis parameters [i.e., advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), total protein sulfhydryl (SHgroups), and paraoxonase 1 (PO N 1) activity] were assessed in 81 patients. According to favorable changes in lipid profile, patients were classified into two groups: responders (n = 35) and non-responders (n = 46), and followed for 13 weeks. A principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to explore the effect of octacosanol supplementation and the relationship between investigated parameters as predictors of responders\' and non-responders\' status.
UNASSIGNED: Significant decrease in Oxy-score value was found at the endpoint compared to baseline in responders\' group (21.0 (13.4-25.5) versus 15.1 (12.4-18.0); P < 0.01). PCA analysis extracted 4 significant factors in the both groups, whereas extracted factors containing \"octacosanol status\" variable explained 14.7% and 11.5% of the variance in responders\' and non-responders\' subgroups, respectively.
UNASSIGNED: Octacosanol supplementation leads to an improvement of lipid profile and markers of redox status in responders\' group. New studies are needed to validate our results in order to find the best approach for personalized supplementation as a useful adjunct to standard statin therapy.
UNASSIGNED: Neujednačeni hipolipemijski efekti primene statina kao i intolerancija na statine dovode do porasta inte resovanja u vezi sa zajedničkom primenom statina i dijetetskih suplemenata. Ova studija je imala za cilj da proceni efekte suplementacije oktakozanolom na markere redoks statusa kod kardiovaskularnih pacijenata na hroničnoj terapiji atorvastatinom.
UNASSIGNED: Sprovedena je dvostruko slepa, randomizovana, placebo kontrolisana studija. U serumu 81 pacijenta određivani su parametri redoks statusa [produkti uznapredovale oksidacije proteina (AOPP), prooksidativno-antioksidativni balans (PAB), totalni oksidativni status (TOS), totalni antioksidativni status (TAS), aktivnost superoksid dismutaze (SOD), sulfihidrilne grupe (SH-grupe) i aktivnost paraoksonaze 1 (PON1)]. U odnosu na povoljne promene lipidnog profila, pacijenti su klasifikovani u dve grupe: responderi (n = 35) i neresponderi (n = 46), i praćeni su 13 nedelja.
UNASSIGNED: Značajno smanjenje vrednosti oksi-skora primećeno je kod respondera na kraju studije u poređenju sa vrednostima na početku studije (21,0 (1 3,4 -25,5) vs. 15,1 (12,4 -18,0); P < 0,01). Principal component analiza (PCA) je primenjena da bi se procenio efekat suplementacije oktakozanolom kao i odnos između ispitivanih parametara kao prediktora odgovara u obe grupe. PCA analiza je izdvojila po 4 značajna faktora u obe grupe, pri čemu faktori koji sadrže varijablu \"status oktakozanola\" objašnjavaju 14,7% i 11,5% ukupne varijacije kod respondera i nerespondera, redom.
UNASSIGNED: Suplementacija oktakozanolom dovodi do poboljšanja lipidnog profila i markera redoks statusa u grupi respondera. Buduće studije su potrebne za potvrdu dobijenih rezultata a u cilju pronalaženja optimalnog pristupa za personalizovanu suplementaciju uz standardnu terapiju statinima.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of octacosanol (OCT) extracted from triticale sprout on laying performance, egg quality, and blood parameters of laying hens. A total of 192, Hyline brown laying hens aged 43 weeks were divided into 4 dietary groups of 48 birds each and they were randomly subjected to one of the experimental diets containing OCT at the levels of none, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg of diet. All birds were fed with isoenergetic and isonitrogenous mash diets for 6 weeks. The result showed that hens supplemented with 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT in diet significantly increased (p < 0.05) egg production than those fed with the basal diet. OCT concentration in the egg yolk of hens fed with 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT was significantly higher than in those fed the control diet. Hens fed 20 and 30 mg/kg OCT exhibited greater high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and interleukin (IL) concentrations and reduced serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglyceride compared to those fed with 0 and 10 mg/kg OCT. This study indicates that supplementing the diet of laying hens with 20 and 30 mg/kg of OCT can improve the performance, egg quality, and health status of laying hens.

Octacosanol (Oct), a kind of long-chain fatty alcohol extracted from rice bran was applied to study its effects on alleviating ulcerative colitis (UC). Oct was orally administered at 10 mg/kg (Oct-L) and 30 mg/kg (Oct-H) to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mice. Here, we reported that oral administration of 30 mg/kg Oct can significantly prevent the weight loss, colon shortening, and decrease the disease activity index (DAI) score. Oct-H supplementation modified the intestinal flora by lowering the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, increasing the abundance of Prevotellaceae, S24-7, Turicibacter, and meanwhile decreasing Enterococcus and Stenotrophomonas. Based on the PICRUSt2 analysis, Oct-H may exert effects by anti-inflammation and xenobiotics degradation. Furthermore, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels were raised and the integrity of the gut barrier was protected. In conclusion, Oct-H can relieve clinical symptoms, modulate the gut bacteria and protect the intestinal barrier in UC mice, suggesting the potential of Oct as a food supplementation in alleviating UC. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a hard-to-cure disease, with increasing morbidity in recent years. Therefore, finding out a food supplement to alleviate UC is very meaningful. In this work, we showed that octacosanol significantly alleviated ulcerative colitis in mice. We revealed, for the first time, octacosanol\'s effects on protecting the integrity of the gut barrier, modulating the intestinal flora and its metabolism (SCFAs). Therefore, octacosanol was expected to prevent colitis in an all-round way. Our research might also lay the theoretical foundation for the further development of related functional foods.

The incidence of obesity has increased significantly on account of the alterations of living habits, especially changes in eating habits. In this study, we investigated the effect of octacosanol on lipid lowering and its molecular mechanism. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model was used in the study. Thirty C57BL/6J mice were divided into control, HFD, and HFD+Oct groups randomly, and every group included ten mice. The mice of HFD+Oct group were intragastrically administrated 100 mg/kg/day of octacosanol. After 10 weeks for treatment, our results indicated that octacosanol supplementation decreased the body, liver, and adipose tissues weight of HFD mice; levels of TC, TG, and LDL-c were reduced in the plasma of HFD mice; and level of HDL-c were increased. H&E staining indicated that octacosanol supplementation reduces the size of fat droplets of hepatic tissues and adipose cells comparing with the HFD group. Gene chip analysis found that octacosanol regulated 72 genes involved in lipid metabolism in the tissues of liver comparing to the HFD group. IPA pathway network analysis indicated that PPAR and AMPK may play a pivotal role in the lipid-lowering function of octacosanol. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot showed that the octacosanol supplementation caused change of expression levels of AMPK, PPARs, FASN, ACC, SREBP-1c, and SIRT1, which were closely related to lipid metabolism. Taken together, our results suggest that octacosanol supplementation exerts a lipid-decreasing effect in the HFD-fed mice through modulating the lipid metabolism-related signal pathway.

Several publications report that octacosanol (OCT) has different biological functions. This study was designed to evaluate the antifatigue effect and molecular mechanism of octacosanol (200 mg/(kg day)) in forced exercise-induced fatigue models of trained male C57BL/6 mice. Results showed that octacosanol ameliorated the mice\'s autonomic activities, forelimb grip strength, and swimming endurance, and the levels of liver glycogen (LG), muscle glycogen (MG), blood lactic acid (BLA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were also regulated. Gene analysis results showed that treatment with OCT upregulated 29 genes, while 38 genes were downregulated in gastrocnemius tissue. Gene ontology (GO) analyses indicated that these genes enriched functions in relation to myofibril, contractile fiber, and calcium-dependent adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity. Octacosanol supplementation significantly adjusted the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels related to fatigue performance. Octacosanol has an observably mitigating effect in exercise-induced fatigue models, and its molecular mechanism may be related to the regulation of tripartite motif-containing 63 (Trim63), periaxin (Prx), calcium voltage-gated channel subunit α1 H (Cacna1h), and myosin-binding protein C (Mybpc3) expression.

Dietary supplementation with sugar cane derivates may modulate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) levels. The purpose of this study was to determine if dietary supplement (DS), containing Octacosanol (20 mg) and vitamin K2 (45 µg), could restore the disrupted physiologic relation between LDL-C and serum PCSK9. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center study including 87 patients on chronic atorvastatin therapy was conducted. Eighty-seven patients were randomized to receive DS (n = 42) or placebo (n = 45), and followed for 13 weeks. Serum PCSK9 levels, lipid parameters and their relationship were the main efficacy endpoints. The absolute levels of PCSK9 and LDL-C were not significantly different from baseline to 13 weeks. However, physiologic correlation between % change of PCSK9 and % change of LDL-C levels was normalized only in the group of patients treated with DS (r = 0.409, p = 0.012). This study shows that DS can restore statin disrupted physiologic positive correlation between PCSK9 and LDL-C. Elevated PCSK9 level is an independent risk factor so controlling its rise by statins may be important in prevention of cardiovascular events.