Policosanol by Pure Encapsulations

Policosanol is a blend of natural plant compounds found in sugar cane wax (saccharum officinarum). Many human studies have shown that policosanol is an effective and safe way to lower LDL cholesterol and raise beneficial HDL cholesterol. Best of all, policosanol does this without the side effects of drugs. Unlike statin drugs, policosanol does not interfere with the body?s production of CoQ10.

Benefits of Policosanol

• Lowers Total and LDL Cholesterol
• Lowers Triglycerides
• Raises HDL Cholesterol
• Inhibits Platelet Clotting
• Improves Intermittent Claudication
• Lowers Blood Lipids in Diabetics
• Lowers Blood Pressure
• Fights Inflammation

Additional Information (PDF)

Naturally Promoting Healthy Cholesterol Levels
One hundred and seventy-nine patients aged 60-78 years with high cholesterol and high risk for heart disease participated in a 30week trial. When patients were treated with 5 mg per day of policosanol for 12 weeks, LDL cholesterol dropped 17% and total cholesterol decreased 13%. Levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol rose 14%. When policosanol intake was increased to 10 mg per day, the results were even more impressive: LDL dropped 24%, total cholesterol decreased 16%, and HDL rose a whopping 29%. [1]

Policosanol and Cholesterol Lowering Drugs Studied Head On
A number of studies have demonstrated that policosanol provides similar, often superior, benefits to those of cholesterol lowering drugs. [2,3] When policosanol and the drug pravastatin were tested side-by-side in an 8-week study of 68 adults, policosanol performed better. Ten milligrams of policosanol reduced total cholesterol by 14% and LDL by 19%. HDL levels increased 18%, and triglycerides dropped 14%. Policosanol also slightly lowered blood pressure. Pravastatin reduced total cholesterol, but by less: 12%. LDL reduction was also less with pravistatin: 16%. Most important of all, pravistatin failed to benefit two of the most important predictive factors for heart disease: HDL and triglyceride levels. [4]

Inhibiting Platelet Clotting
One of the ways to keep blood "thinner" is to inhibit the natural tendency of platelets to clot. Policosanol has been found to inhibit platelet-clotting naturally. [5] Policosanol appears to thin blood without increasing bleeding time. [6]

Improving Exercise Endurance in Heart Disease and Intermittent Claudication Patients
Policosanol improves the exercise response in patients with coronary artery disease. [7] Policosanol taken at a 20 mg dose for 2 years increased walking distances and improved symptoms caused by poor circulation. [8]

How to Take Policosanol
Research suggests that the beneficial doses of policosanol range from 10 to 20 mg per day. For maximum effectiveness, only use policosanol derived from sugar cane wax. This is the kind which has been found safe and effective in humans. Policosanol from beeswax or other sources may not be as effective.

Policosanol has been found to be very safe and extremely well-tolerated over many years of consumptions Toxicity tests in rats using 1,724 times the human dose showed no toxicity. Note that policosanol contains none of the sugar found in sugar cane, and is safe and beneficial for diabetics.

References:
1. Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez L, Fernandez JC, Illnait J, Lopez LE, Alvarez E. Effects of policosanol on postmenopausal women with type II hypercholesterolemia. Gynecol Endocrinol 2000 Jun;14(3):187-95.
2. Crespo N et al. Comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol
and lovastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1999; 19(4): 117-27.
3. Alcocer L, Fernandez L, Campos E, Mas R. A comparative study of policosanol
Versus acipimox in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. Int J Tissue React. 1999. 21(3): 85-92.
4. Castano G et al. A long-term study of policosanol in the treatment of intermittent
claudication. Angiology. 2001 Feb; 52(2): 115-25.
5. Castano G et al. Effects of policosanol 20 versus 40 mg/day in the treatment
of patients with type II hypercholesterolemia: a 6-month double-blind study. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2001; 21(1): 43-57.
6. Castano G et al. Effects of policosanol in older patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2001
Mar; 56(3): M186-92.
7. Castano G et al. Effects of policosanol and pravastatin on lipid profile, platelet aggregation and endothelemia in older hypercholesterolemic patients. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1999; 19(4): 105-16.
8. Healthnotes Clinical Essentials. Copyright 2003. Healthnotes, Inc.