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Policosanol: Lower Cholesterol Without the Hazards of Toxic Statin Drugs

Postmenopausal women have excellent results

When policosonal was tested on postmenopausal women who had high cholesterol the results were equally impressive. Fifty-six women were divided into two groups. One took a placebo and the other took 5 mg of policosanol for eight weeks. For the second eight weeks, the dosage was elevated to 10 mg of policosanol.

Not only was policosanol safe and well tolerated by the women, when it was compared to the women’s baseline and the placebo group at both dosages of 5 and 10 mg a day it significantly:

  • Decreased LDL-cholesterol 17.3% and 26.7%, respectively
  • Decreased total cholesterol by 12.9% and 19.5%
  • Decreased the ratios of LDL-cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol by 17.2% and 26.5%
  • Decreased total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol by 16.3% and 21.0%
  • Raised HDL-cholesterol levels by 7.4% at the end of the study. No significant changes occurred in the lipid profile of the placebo group.22

 

A cholesterol primer: total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, Triglycerides

Cholesterol is carried in blood in the form of substances called lipoproteins. Cardiovascular risk can be assessed by measuring total blood cholesterol, as well as the proportions of the different types of lipoproteins.

1) Total cholesterol is the most common measure of blood cholesterol and the only number many people get from their doctor. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood. A total cholesterol reading less than 200 mg/dL means a lower risk of heart disease, which everyone should try to attain. A reading of 200-239 is borderline high cholesterol, and 240 and over is high cholesterol.

Lipoproteins

2) HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, helps carry cholesterol out of the body, including cholesterol deposited inside blood vessels, where it may block the flow of blood. If there is too much cholesterol for the HDLs to pick up, or an inadequate supply of HDLs, cholesterol may aggregate into plaque groups that block arteries. Those blockages are the main cause of heart attacks. Remember that higher is healthier. A reading of less than 40 is low, at or greater than 60 is high, and having a level of 60 or greater is considered a “negative” risk factor that can offset another risk factor.

3) LDL cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol, hauls cholesterol from the liver to all cells in the body. Remember that lower is healthier. A reading of less than 100 is optimal; 100-129 is near or above optimal; 130-159, borderline high; 160-189, high; 190 or greater is very high.

Rule of thumb:
You want to raise (Heighten) your HDL and Lower your LDL.

4) Triglycerides make up most of the body’s fat, and are the storehouse for energy. Edible oils from seeds, egg yolk and animal fats also are composed mainly of triglycerides. They may not be as corrosive as LDL, but excess triglycerides exacerbate heart disease potential when they oxidize and damage artery linings or induce blood cells to clump. A reading of under 100 is optimal; under 200 is normal; 200-400 is borderline high; over 400 is high.

When high triglycerides and low HDL occur together, the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, heart and kidney failure and other degenerative diseases increase. In fact, another up-and-coming index of heart disease risk is your triglyceride-to-HDL ratio. A ratio of less than 2 is considered good.

The best ways to lower your triglyceride levels are to reduce your intake of carbohydrates, especially sugar and starch foods; and take a high-quality fish oil product.

Policosanol reduces blood lipids in older patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk

There’s no doubt that patients with type II hypercholsterolemia (an inherited genetic condition that results in elevated LDL levels beginning at birth, and may result in heart attacks at an early age), have a very difficult time living without the fear of heart attack or stroke. In one Cuban study, after 6 weeks on a lipid-lowering diet, 179 older patients randomly received a placebo or policosanol at doses of 5 mg followed by 10 mg per day for successive 12-week periods of each dose.

The results? policosanol (5 and 10 mg/d):

  • Reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 16.9% and 24.4%, respectively
  • Reduced total cholesterol by 12.8% and 16.2%
  • Significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) by 14.6% and 29.1%

Policosanol, but not the placebo, significantly improved overall cardiovascular health and stamina in these patients, and there were no adverse side effects!23

Other studies which tested tolerability and effectiveness of policosanol on patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia24, patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia, with hypercholesterolemia and noninsulin dependent diabetes, all had similar excellent results.

Policosanol outperforms most cholesterol-lowering drugs

In fact, policosanol performed better than or equal to other cholesterol-lowering drugs, including Simvastatin, Pravastatin, Lovastatin, Probucol and Acipimox with fewer side effects. Daily doses of 10 mg of policosanol have been shown to be equally effective in lowering total or LDL cholesterol as the same dose of Simvastatin or Pravastatin. 27

Is more effective than lovastatin in diabetics

Policosanol at 10 mg/day is more effective in normalizing HDL-cholesterol and has a better safety and tolerability profile than lovastatin at 20 mg/day in patients with high cholesterol and non-insulin dependent diabetes.25

Benefits beyond lowering cholesterol

Although scientists still don’t know exactly how policosanol works, study after study has shown it to decrease several other risk factors of cardiovascular disease:

  • LDL oxidation26
  • Platelet aggregation27
  • Endothelial damage28
  • It also helps diminish the symptoms of intermittent claudication (peripheral arterial disease), a potentially disabling condition characterized by attacks of pain or fatigue in the calf, thigh, or buttock.29

Treadmill test is easier with policosanol!

If you’re a heart patient, you’ve already endured the dreaded treadmill test. And if you’ve never taken it, you’ve probably heard about it. There was actually a study done following 45 heart patients with myocardial ischemia to see how policosanol would affect their treadmill performance. The groups that took policosanol for a 20-month period did significantly better on their treadmill tests than the group that took a placebo—due to an improvement in their myocardial ischemia—and they also had improved lipid profiles.30

Prevention is the best cure

Abnormal cholesterol levels are one of the causes of atherosclerosis, which diminishes the supply of blood to the heart and eventually leads to heart attacks. Atherosclerosis affects blood vessels throughout your body and also contributes to angina (chest pain), intermittent claudication (pain caused by blockage of arteries in the legs), and stroke.

According to the guidelines set by the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults31, the best things you can do for reducing heart disease is to:

  1. Cut your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol
  2. Reduce your consumption of carbohydrates
  3. Exercise more
  4. Control your weight

Reduce cholesterol with policosanol and see the amazing results!

Now it’s easier than ever to control your blood cholesterol with policosanol! It’s safe, natural, and inexpensive. But be sure you are purchasing a policosonal product made from sugar cane wax, that’s the only type that has been proven to have cholesterol-lowering benefits. And be sure the manufacturer stands behind their product with a money-back guarantee, so you can be sure they believe in the product they are selling. There are just too many poor-quality policosonal products on the market today, so protect yourself. But if you do purchase a high-quality policosonal product, you can bet you’ve found a healthly, natural alternative to dangerous and toxic statin drugs.

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Editor's Note:

The natural health solutions described in this article are available through many on-line retailers including those listed below. By clicking these links you help support the important alternative health research we provide.

Visit www.amazon.com – a great way to find competitive deals on supplements offered by many different manufacturers.

Visit www.hfn-usa.com – when commitment to quality and freshness is important, this factory direct solution is preferred by many of our readers.

This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a physician before embarking on a dietary supplement program.

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  7. Menendez R, Fernandez SI, Del Rio A, et al. Policosanol inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis and enhances low density lipoprotein processing in cultured human fibroblasts. Biol Res 1994.

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  14. Mesa AR, Mas R, Noa M, Hernandez C, Rodeiro I, Gamez R, Garcia M, Capote A, Aleman CL. Toxicity of policosanol in beagle dogs: one-year study. Toxicol Lett 1994 Aug;73(2):81-90.

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  15. Aleman CL, Mas R, Hernandez C, Rodeiro I, Cerejido E, Noa M, Capote A, Menendez R, Amor A, Fraga V, et al. A 12-month study of policosanol oral toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Toxicol Lett1994 Jan;70(1):77-87.

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  16. Menendez R, Amor AM, Gonzalez RM, Fraga V, Mas R. Effect of policosanol on the hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis of normocholesterolemic rats. Biol Res 1996;29(2):253-7.

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  17. Menendez R, Fernandez SI, Del Rio A, et al. Policosanol inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis and enhances low density lipoprotein processing in cultured human fibroblasts. Biol Res 1994.

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  18. Janikula M. Policosanol: a new treatment for cardiovascular disease?Altern Med Rev 2002 Jun;7(3):203-17.

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  20. Janikula M. Policosanol: a new treatment for cardiovascular disease? Altern Med Rev 2002 Jun;7(3):203-17.

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  25. Crespo N, Illnait J, Mas R, Fernandez L, Fernandez J, Castano G. Comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol and lovastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res1999;19(4):117-27.

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  27. Arruzazabala ML, Molina V, Mas R, Fernandez L, Carbajal D, Valdes S, Castano G. Antiplatelet effects of policosanol (20 and 40 mg/day) in healthy volunteers and dyslipidaemic patients. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2002 Oct;29(10):891-7.

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  30. Stusser R, Batista J, Padron R, Sosa F, Pereztol O. Long-term therapy with policosanol improves treadmill exercise-ECG testing performance of coronary heart disease patients. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1998 Sep;36(9):469-73.

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  31. JAMA 2001;285:2486–97.

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