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Policosanol
What is Policosanol?
Policosanol is a mixture of alcohols isolated and refined from sugar cane. The main ingredient in Policosanol is octacosanol, but as the name implies, Policosanol is actually a mixture of many (hence the prefix "poli") alcohols, including hexacosanol, triacontanol and others. As a nutritional supplement, Policosanol has been associated with lower levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol. 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. Patients who have taken Policosanol have also shown increased levels of high-density lipoprotein or HDL, the "good" cholesterol. HDL actually helps carry cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, where it is processed and excreted from the body. A relatively high proportion of HDL in your total cholesterol level may be beneficial in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.
Policosanol has also been associated with lower improved coronary artery health. In clinical studies, Policosanol has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and neuroprotective properties." With so many uses, a wealth of clinical research and a history of safe and effective use in patients, it is easy to see why Policosanol is one of the most exciting nutritional finds in some time.
Policosanol Benefits
Policosanol has been used by millions of people in other countries and it appears to normalize cholesterol as well or better than cholesterol lowering drugs, without side effects. Efficacy and safety have been proven in numerous clinical trials. Heart attack and stroke have been associated with high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad" cholesterol) and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, also known as "good" cholesterol). Reversing these trends can lower the risk for these and other artery-related diseases.
Policosanol and Healthy Hearts
Policosanol also appears to reduce the proliferation of cells in the arteries. Healthy arteries are lined with a smooth layer of cells that allow the blood to pass through with no resistance. Diseased arteries become thick and overgrown with cells. As the artery narrows, blood flow slows down or is blocked completely.
Policosanol also inhibits the formation of clots, and may work synergistically with aspirin in this respect. In a comparison of aspirin and policosanol, aspirin was better at reducing one type of platelet aggregation (clumping together of blood cells). But policosanol was better at inhibiting another type. Together, policosanol and aspirin worked better than either alone. A related effect is that significant reductions in the level of thromboxane occur in humans after two weeks of policosanol. Thromboxane is a blood vessel-constricting eicosanoid produced by platelets.
Postmenopausal Women and Heart Disease
The female hormones estrogen and progesterone appear to provide a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. As women go through menopause and hormone levels begin to drop, there is often an elevation of cholesterol and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Policosanol and Diabetes
Although Policosanol has no direct impact on diabetes, clinical studies on diabetics have shown some important implications. Patients who have Type II or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are predisposed to elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.[10] Fifty-three diabetic patients with high cholesterol were enrolled in a randomized, double blind study of Policosanol. After 12 weeks, total cholesterol was lowered 14%, LDL cholesterol by 20% and HDL cholesterol increased by 7.5% in the group receiving policosanol.[11] Other studies had demonstrated similar positive results with type II diabetic patients.[12] The researchers noted that there is no viable carbohydrate value to policosanol, and thus no elevation in blood sugar. This is an important consideration for patients who have diabetes.
How Policosanol Works?
Although its exact mechanism is not known, Policosanol appears to work by blocking the body's synthesis of cholesterol. Unlike statin drugs that are usually used to treat patients with elevated cholesterol levels, Policosanol does not inhibit the HMG-CoA enzyme like the "statin" cholesterol-lowering drugs, but it may inhibit a different enzyme. What makes Policosanol exciting is that it has other actions against heart disease in addition to lowering cholesterol. Like statin drugs, Policosanol helps stop the formation of artery lesions.
Policosanol also appears to inhibit the oxidation of LDL. Oxidized LDL creates a chronic inflammatory response that promotes the destruction of blood vessels. Oxidized LDL can also provoke metalloproteinase enzymes. These enzymes promote blood vessel destruction and decrease the protective effects of HDL. Animal studies have shown that Policosanol decreases number of foam cells, reflecting less inflammatory response causing less blood vessel destruction
Policosanol Side Effects
The most frequently reported side effects are weight loss (1.8% of patients treated), polyuria (frequent or excessive urination occurred in 0.7% of patients), and headache (0.6%). Rare but possible side effects also include insomnia, polyphagia (an excessive desire to eat), nervousness, somnolence, dizziness, excitability, hypotension, hypertension, pruritus, skin rash, nausea, epigastric pain, diarrhea and constipation.
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Policosanol
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