What is Policosanol?
Policosanol is a natural product, derived from the waxy coating of sugar cane, now available in Australia to lower high blood cholesterol. Six million Australians currently have blood cholesterol of more than 5.5 mmol/L, which is considered high. What is policosanol’s effect on cholesterol? Policosanol has been shown to be effective in lowering both total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called ‘bad’ cholesterol. It has also been shown to increase levels of the ‘good’ type of cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Why is LDL cholesterol important? The level of LDL in a person’s blood is linked to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the blood vessels due to build up of lipids, sometimes known as ‘hardening of the arteries’). Having a high level of LDL cholesterol puts a person at risk of having coronary heart disease. Why is HDL cholesterol important? HDL is called the ‘good’ cholesterol as it can actually help carry cholesterol away from the
Policosanol is yet another of the “natural supplements,” that people take for lowering blood cholesterol. It is a derivative of sugar cane, specifically, the alcohols that are derived from the wax produced by sugar cane. Actually, since it was developed in Cuba, this form is not widely available in the US. Policosanol made in the US may be made from wheat germ or from beeswax. There was great hope that policosanol would prove effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels, because its side effects are few. This doesn’t mean the drug has no side effects or is always safe. Policosanol should never be used by children, or pregnant or nursing mothers. It should also not be used by anyone taking blood thinners because it can further thin the blood. Anyone who decides to use policosanol should do so under the direction of a licensed medical practitioner. The medication is not without side effects as previous studies claimed. People taking policosanol have reported skin rash, stomach upset, h
Policosanol is a mixture of natural substances extracted from the waxy coating of sugarcane stems and leaves. What is bad and good cholesterol? In our bloodstream, cholesterol exists in two forms. One is bad (LDL cholesterol), in the sense that it can lead to the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in our arteries, especially when it becomes oxidised by free radicals. The other is good (HDL cholesterol), in the sense that it does not do this but is instead transported to the liver for metabolism or excretion. What is the effect of Policosanol on cholesterol? More than 60 clinical trials confirmed that Policosanol is effective in lowering cholesterol. It lowers both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. At the same time, Policosanol increases the level of good type of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol. Some clinical trials have been conducted to compare the efficacy of Policosanol with that of statin drugs (the widely used chemical drugs for lowering cholesterol) and showed very similar res
