Policosanol is a mixture of waxy substances manufactured from sugarcane. It appears to slow down cholesterol synthesis in the liver and also to increase liver reabsorption of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. It is approved as a treatment for high cholesterol in about two dozen countries. In a study conducted in Cuba, policosanol and lovastatin administered short term to patients with high lipid levels secondary to type 2 diabetes were effective in lowering cholesterol and in inhibiting the extent of lipid peroxidation. Policosanol was slightly more effective than lovastatin in reducing cholesterol levels and in preventing LDL oxidation. Furthermore, policosanol seems to have mild anti-platelet activity which would help thin the blood. Research results with policosanol and cholesterol reduction have not been consistent with some studies showing no benefits.
Policosanol,
10 mg - Source Naturals
Policosanols are a blend of compounds isolated from natural plant waxes.
Policosanol contains several long chain fatty alcohols, including
octocossonol, hexacosanol and triacontanol. Animal and in-vitro research
has shown that these compounds may support the cardiovascular system and
inhibit lipid peroxidation as well as support macrophage activity.
Policosanol, a sugar cane extract,
may lower cholesterol but studies show conflicting results
Doctors often prescribe drugs called
statins for those with cholesterol levels
above 200 mg. Many individuals are uncomfortable taking drugs to lower cholesterol and
rather prefer to do so by diet and natural supplements. A while back a
cholesterol-lowering drug called Baychol, promoted by Bayer corporation, was removed from
the market after it caused severe muscle damage and dozens of fatalities. Although statins
are effective in lowering cholesterol levels, their long-term side effects are currently
not fully known.
There are a few supplements that may help lower cholesterol
levels including niacin, guggul, psyllium, and policosanol.
Policosanol is a mixture of related compounds derived from the waxy portion of sugar cane.
In a recent randomized, double-blind study done at the National Center for Scientific
Research, in Havana, Cuba, investigators evaluated the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of
daily intake of 20 mg of policosanol. After 24 weeks, policosanol lowered LDL-cholesterol
(the bad cholesterol) by 27 percent and total cholesterol by 15 percent while
HDL-cholesterol (the good cholesterol) increased by 17 percent. Policosanol also lowered
triglyceride levels by 12 percent. No significant changes occurred in any lipid profile
parameters in the placebo group. No unexpected adverse effects were observed.
Comments: Eating small frequent meals,
along with lots of vegetables, whole grains, beans, and peas, is helpful in lowering
cholesterol levels. Those who are not able to reduce their cholesterol by diet and
exercise alone may try by taking policosanol at 10 to 20 mg per day along with the
other nutrients mentioned above. Statin drugs should be reserved for those who fail to
respond to diet and supplements. Policosanol is not as effective as statin drugs.
Interactions between statin drugs and policosanol, if any, are not well
understood. The use of policosanol for cholesterol lowering is controversial
since studies have shown conflicting results.
Extracts from
Cuban sugar cane have shown mixed results in lowering cholesterol levels. A number of plant
products work well for cutting cholesterol, such as plant sterols, says Dr.
Peter J. H. Jones, Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Functional Foods at
the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. But his study shows Cuban
sugar cane "policosanols" were not helpful. Peter J. H. Jones and his
colleague, Dr. Amira N. Kassis, had 21 healthy men and women with high
cholesterol take 10 milligrams of policosanols daily or a placebo for 28 days.
After an additional 28-day "washout period," the study participants were
switched to placebo or policosanols. Jones and Amira Kassis found no effect of the
policosanols on any measure of participants' cholesterol. While dozens of human
and animal studies from one lab based in Cuba have shown cholesterol lowering
effects approaching those of statins for policosanols, studies done elsewhere
have shown no effect. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, November 2006.
Comment: One has to look at who sponsored the research and whether
a higher dose of policosanol, such as 20 or 40 mg a day may have made a
difference. However, for the time being, policosanol appears to be a
controversial natural supplement for lowering cholesterol.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
of the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of food supplement policosanol in
patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia
Lijec Vjesn. 2005 Nov-Dec;127(11-12):273-9. Klinika za unutrasnje bolesti
Klinickog boirkog centra Zagreb Medicinskog fakulteta Sveufiligta u Zagrebu.
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study was performed
in 67 patients of both sexes aged 20 to 78 years with moderate
hypercholesterolemia to investigate the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of
food supplement policosanol --a mixture of aliphatic primary alcohols from rice
(Oryza sp.). After a 8-week run-in period in which patients were placed on
therapeutic lifestyle changes, in particular cholesterol-lowering diet, they
were randomly assigned to receive policosanol 10 mg capsules or placebo capsules
once daily with the evening meal for 8 weeks. During next 8 weeks those
receiving policosanol during the first 8 weeks, received placebo and those
taking placebo during the first 8 weeks, received policosanol. Total cholesterol
(C), LDL-C, HDL-C, HDL2-C, HDL3-C, triglycerides, oxidized LDL, apoproteins A I
and B and lipoprotein (a) as well as AST, ALT, GGT, CK, blood glucose and
bilirubin were determined before the treatment, after the first part of the
study i.e. after the first 8 weeks and at the end of the study, i.e after the
second 8 weeks. Policosanol significantly reduced plasma total cholesterol and
increased apoprotein A I but did not change plasma triglycerides, HDL-C, HDL2-C,
HDL3-C, LDL-C, oxidized LDL, Lp (a) and apoproteinS. It was well tolerated, with
no drug-related effects on safety parameters such as serum aminotransferases,
blood glucose, bilirubin, and CK, neither did it cause any clinical adverse
reactions.
Effects of rice policosanol on serum lipoproteins, homocysteine, fibrinogen and
C-reactive protein in hypercholesterolaemic patients.
Clin Drug Investig. 2005;25(11):701-7. Department of Internal Medicine,
University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
This study investigated the efficacy and tolerability of rice policosanol (Oryza
sp.) 10 mg a day in 70 patients with high cholesterol levels of both sexes aged
20-78 years in a randomised, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled,
single-centre trial. Patients received rice policosanol 10mg tablets or placebo
tablets once daily with the evening meal for 8 weeks. During the next 8 weeks
those patients who received policosanol during the first 8 weeks received
placebo, and those who received placebo during the first 8 weeks, received
policosanol. Total, LDL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), HDL2 and HDL3
cholesterol, triglycerides, oxidised LDL (ox-LDL), apoproteins (Apos) AI and B,
lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], fibrinogen, homocysteine and C-reactive protein (CRP)
levels were measured. Rice policosanol 10 mg/day moderately decreased plasma
total cholesterol and increased Apo AI. Rice policosanol was also well
tolerated, with no drug-related effects on safety parameters such as serum
aminotransferases and creatine phosphokinase detected or found on physical
examination.
Effects of policosanol and lovastatin on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation
in patients with dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Castano G,.
Medical Surgical Research Center, Havana City, Cuba.
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2002;22(3-4):89-99.
In this pilot, randomized, double-blind study, we compared the effects of
policosanol and lovastatin on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in patients
with dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. After 4 weeks on a
cholesterol-lowering diet, 36 patients were randomized to policosanol (10
mg/day) or lovastatin (20 mg/day) tablets o.i.d. for 8 weeks. Policosanol
significantly lowered serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)
(29%), total cholesterol (21%), triglycerides (13%) and the LDL-C/high-density
lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (36%) and total cholesterol/HDL-C (28%)
ratios and significantly increased HDL-C (12%). Lovastatin
significantly lowered LDL-C (25%), total cholesterol (18%),
triglycerides (10.9%) and the LDL-C/HDL-C (30%) and total cholesterol/HDL-C
ratios (23.9%) and significantly raised HDL-C (8%). Policosanol was
more effective than lovastatin in reducing both ratios and in increasing HDL-C. Policosanol, but not lovastatin, significantly
raised the lag time (20.9%) of Cu+2-induced LDL peroxidation and total plasma
antioxidant activity. Both policosanol and lovastatin
significantly decreased the propagation rate, maximal diene production (8% and 5%) and plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Both
treatments were well tolerated. Only one patient in the lovastatin group
withdrew from the trial due to adverse events. In conclusion, policosanol and
lovastatin administered short term to patients with dyslipidemia secondary to
type 2 diabetes were effective in lowering cholesterol and in inhibiting the
extent of lipid peroxidation. Policosanol (10 mg/day) was slightly more
effective than lovastatin (20 mg/day) in reducing the LDL-C/HDL-C and total
cholesterol/HDL-C ratios, in increasing HDL-C levels and in preventing LDL
oxidation. Nevertheless, since this was a pilot study, further clinical studies
performed in larger sample sizes of diabetic patients are needed for definitive
conclusions.
Policosanol effect in animal
studies
Policosanol is a cholesterol-lowering substance isolated from sugar cane wax
with anti-platelet effects that prevents lipofundin-induced atherosclerotic
lesions in rabbits and rats, including foam cell formation, and also reduces
foam cell formation in carrageenan-induced granulomas in rats, while it inhibits
proliferation of smooth muscle cells induced in rabbit cuffed artery.
Policosanol
supplement
questions
Q. Can you please tell me if the following drugs are compatable with Policosanol,
namely, Insulin, hydrocortisone, lisinopril and cardico.
A. We are not aware of research combining policosanol with these
drugs.
Q. Thank you for your wonderful and
informative web site. There are many brands of Policosanol on the market today
that are made from cane sugar and contain so they claim, a blend of natural
fatty alcohols as well, with octacosanol being the predominant one. Would you
say that from within this group, one brand would be as good as the next? If not,
what criteria should the consumer use to make an intelligent choice?
A. Unless each brand is tested in an independent laboratory, there
is no other way to be completely certain that the label is accurate. Most often
one relies on the overall integrity and reputation of the company selling the
product.
Q. It seems that the controversy over the effectiveness of policosanol
supplement, is centralized to the type used.
The sugar cane derived variety being the type, which has the therapeutic effect,
while other sources do not. This is a ploy, in my estimation, by BIG PHARMA to
debunk the use of natural medicines. This is similar to the manipulation of
using petroleum derived, DL alpha tocopherol to "PROVE" that vitamin E is
ineffective. Full spectrum, natural alpha, beta, delta and gama D-tocopherol and
tocotrienol are very effective. These are two very different substances and are
BOTH called vitamin E!
A. This could be a good point, we don't know enough about what was
used in the clinical studies to make a judgment.
Suppliers
My name is Wenddy Shi, and my company is Wuyi Zhenwei Bio-Science & Technology
Co., Ltd. Our facility is Kosher and ISO certificated. We are the most
professional Policosanol manufacturer in China! We provide you with our product:
Policosanol 95%, 1-Octacosanol 12%
Policosanol 95%, 1-Octacosanol 50%
Policosanol 99%, 1-Octacosanol 90%
Products are extracted from both Sugar Cane and Rice Bran Waxes. We are looking
forward to your favorable reply. Wenddy Shi, Business Development Manager,
Wuyi Zhenwei Bio-Science&Technology Co., Ltd. Address: GangTou Industry Park,
LvTan, WuYi County, ZheJiang Province, China 321208
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