What Is the Drug Policosanol?

Policosanol is a relatively new all-natural drug that is said to help regulate HDL and LDL cholesterol levels. Cholesterol control is an important part of daily life for many adults. If cholesterol levels are not controlled, serious health effects may ensue such as heart attack, stroke or premature death. Policosanol works to raise the "good" cholesterol (HDL), while lowering the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) in your system. Policosanol is considered a nutritional supplement and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for controlling cholesterol levels.

Definition

• Policosanolis, also known as polycosanol, is a generic name for wax secretions from plants. Specifically, Policosanol is a combination of isolated alcohols refined from sugar cane. Octacosanol, is listed as the main active ingredient, but Policosanol combines many alcohols like hexacosanol and triacontanol among others, making the real source of Policosanol's effects unknown. Because Policosanol is a nutritional supplement from naturally occurring substances, it is promoted as being relatively safe to take.

Uses

• Policosanol is mainly used to reduce LDL cholesterol and heighten HDL cholesterol in an effort to prevent atherosclerosis, which is the thickening of the artery walls and leads to heart attacks. Policosanol allegedly also prevents strokes. Policosanol suggests other important qualities such as bolstering lower coronary artery health, and it displays anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective abilities. As a nutritional supplement, Policosanol is promoted as a way to safely control cholesterol as well as promote overall health in other arteries and neurons, prevent atherosclerosis, increase HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol.

How to Use

• Policosanol is available in capsule form in most health and nutrition stores as well as online. Although there is no FDA-approved recommended dose, most dosage instructions recommend 5 to 10 mg twice a day. Most reported side effects, primarily reported from the Cuban study, are mild and short term and include headache, insomnia, skin rash and indigestion.

Controversy

• Cuban trials of the drug showed that Policosanol was effective in lowering HDL and raising LDL; however, more recent U.S. and German clinical trial did not show any efficacy. Thus, Policosanol's effectiveness remains an open debate. The Cuban reports indicated that it lowered HDL by 10 percent and raised LDL by 10 to 30 percent. Yet the German studies from 2006, as well as U.S. studies on the drug, found it ineffective.

Inconclusive Data

• The effectiveness of Policosanol a matter of controversy. The drug properties are also a mystery and the effects seem, if any, to be minimal. The Cuban studies are the most comprehensive to date and include over 80 double-blind studies. However, all the studies were underwritten by the company that owns the patent on Policonsanol, which casts doubt on their credibility.