Policosanol - NutraPedia

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Policosanol - Overview of Uses and Effects

1) Conditions Studied

Policosanol has been studied for a variety of health conditions, primarily related to cardiovascular health. These include:

  • High cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia)
  • Intermittent claudication (a condition caused by poor circulation in the legs)
  • Cerebrovascular diseases (related to blood flow in the brain)
  • Coronary heart disease prevention

2) Efficacy in Treating Conditions

The effectiveness of policosanol in treating these conditions is mixed and somewhat controversial.

  • For high cholesterol, some studies suggest it may lower bad LDL cholesterol and raise good HDL cholesterol, while others have found little to no effect.
  • For intermittent claudication, evidence suggests it may increase the distance patients can walk without pain, but more research is needed.
  • Its effects on cerebrovascular diseases and coronary heart disease prevention are not well-established and require further study.

3) Health Benefits

Policosanol is purported to offer several health benefits, including:

  • Lowering LDL cholesterol and raising HDL cholesterol.
  • Reducing the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
  • Possibly improving leg pain due to poor circulation (intermittent claudication).
  • Antioxidant effects.
However, these benefits are not conclusively proven, and more research is necessary to confirm them.

4) Downsides

Policosanol is generally considered safe with few side effects reported at recommended doses. However, some potential downsides include:

  • Mild side effects such as weight loss, rashes, migraines, insomnia, drowsiness, irritability, dizziness, upset stomach, and increased appetite.
  • Rare cases of more severe side effects.
  • Potential interactions with blood-thinning medications, which could increase the risk of bleeding.
It's important to consult with a healthcare provider before taking policosanol, especially if you are on other medications.

5) Genetic Variations

There is limited data on the relationship between policosanol and specific genetic variations. Some research suggests that individual genetic differences could affect how one responds to policosanol, particularly concerning cholesterol metabolism. However, there is currently no conclusive evidence to provide specific guidelines or recommendations for policosanol use based on genetic variations. As such, it remains a topic for future research to explore.

Policosanol Research Summary

Effects of Policosanol in Hypercholesterolemic Patients

A research study found that policosanol significantly lowered total cholesterol levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. Daily administration of 10 mg of rice policosanol was well-tolerated and moderately reduced total cholesterol without affecting triglycerides or other lipid parameters.

Combination Therapy with Policosanol and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Combining policosanol with omega-3 fatty acids was beneficial for managing lipid profiles in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia, suggesting potential for combined therapy in lipid management.

Impact of Policosanol on Bone Health

Policosanol was effective in preventing bone loss and reducing bone resorption in ovariectomized rats, implying potential benefits in preventing bone loss in postmenopausal women.

Long-term Safety of Policosanol

Long-term studies in both rats and monkeys demonstrated that policosanol is safe when administered orally, even at very high doses, and does not have carcinogenic effects.

Reproductive Safety of Policosanol

Policosanol was neither teratogenic in rats or rabbits nor did it cause reproductive harm in rats, indicating it is safe for use during pregnancy and lactation.

Antiplatelet and Antithrombotic Properties

Policosanol exhibited antiplatelet effects and provided protection against thrombosis in animal models, suggesting its potential use in managing thrombotic conditions.

Lack of Efficacy in LDL Cholesterol Reduction

Several studies reported that policosanol did not significantly reduce LDL cholesterol or other lipid levels beyond that of a placebo, questioning its effectiveness as a cholesterol-lowering agent.

References:


  1. Effect of saponification on composition of unsaponifiable matter in rice bran oil
  2. Pulmonary atresia, intact ventricular septum, and major aortopulmonary collaterals: morphogenetic and surgical implications
  3. Metabolite profiling based on lipophilic compounds for quality assessment of perilla (Perilla frutescens) cultivars
  4. Policosanol content and composition in perilla seeds
  5. A gas chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometric analysis of policosanols in commercial vegetable oils
  6. Policosanol contents and compositions of wheat varieties
  7. Comparison of the concentrations of long-chain alcohols (policosanol) in three Tunisian peanut varieties (Arachis hypogaea L.)
  8. Effects of rice policosanol on serum lipoproteins, homocysteine, fibrinogen and C-reactive protein in hypercholesterolaemic patients
  9. Characterization of a potential nutraceutical ingredient: pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed oil unsaponifiable fraction
  10. Policosanol, alpha-tocopherol, and moisture content as a function of timing of harvest of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)
  11. Octacosanol isolated from Tinospora cordifolia downregulates VEGF gene expression by inhibiting nuclear translocation of NF-B and its DNA binding activity
  12. Activation of AMP-kinase by policosanol requires peroxisomal metabolism
  13. Study of the stability of tablets containing 10 mg of policosanol as active principle
  14. Stability studies of tablets containing 5 mg of policosanol
  15. Cholesterol ester and free fatty acids are modulated by policosanol in CaCo-2 intestinal cells
  16. Comparison of composition and absorption of sugarcane policosanols
  17. Changes in cholesterol kinetics following sugar cane policosanol supplementation: a randomized control trial
  18. In vitro and in vivo study of octacosanol metabolism
  19. Tissue distribution of (8-14C)-octacosanol in liver and muscle of rats after serial administration
  20. Biodistribution and metabolism of orally administered octacosanol in rats
  21. The regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase by upstream kinases
  22. Policosanol inhibits cholesterol synthesis in hepatoma cells by activation of AMP-kinase
  23. Regulation of HMGCoA reductase activity by policosanol and octacosadienol, a new synthetic analogue of octacosanol
  24. Regulation of HMG-CoA reductase: identification of the site phosphorylated by the AMP-activated protein kinase in vitro and in intact rat liver
  25. Activation of rat liver cytosolic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase kinase by adenosine 5'-monophosphate
  26. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase: regulation of enzymatic activity by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation
  27. Policosanol inhibits cholesterol biosynthesis and enhances low density lipoprotein processing in cultured human fibroblasts
  28. Policosanol modulates HMG-CoA reductase activity in cultured fibroblasts
  29. Effect of policosanol on the hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis of normocholesterolemic rats
  30. Cholesterol-lowering effect of policosanol on rabbits with hypercholesterolaemia induced by a wheat starch-casein diet
  31. Very long chain fatty acids (policosanols) and phytosterols affect plasma lipid levels and cholesterol biosynthesis in hamsters
  32. Effects of policosanols and phytosterols on lipid levels and cholesterol biosynthesis in hamsters
  33. Effects of policosanol on older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia
  34. Effects of policosanol 20 versus 40 mg/day in the treatment of patients with type II hypercholesterolemia: a 6-month double-blind study
  35. Effects of policosanol in older patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk
  36. Effects of successive dose increases of policosanol on the lipid profile of patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia and tolerability to treatment
  37. A two-year study on the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinaemia
  38. Treatment of hypercholesterolemia in NIDDM with policosanol
  39. Effect of policosanol on hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease in middle-aged patients. A 14-month pilot study
  40. Effects of policosanol in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and additional coronary risk factors
  41. Effects of policosanol on postmenopausal women with type II hypercholesterolemia
  42. Effects of policosanol and pravastatin on lipid profile, platelet aggregation and endothelemia in older hypercholesterolemic patients
  43. Comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol and lovastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus
  44. Effects of policosanol and lovastatin on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in patients with dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus
  45. Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol with atorvastatin in elderly patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia
  46. Comparison of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of original policosanol versus other mixtures of higher aliphatic primary alcohols in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia
  47. Concomitant use of policosanol and beta-blockers in older patients
  48. A pharmacological surveillance study of the tolerability of policosanol in the elderly population
  49. A comparison of the effects of D-003 and policosanol (5 and 10 mg/day) in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia: a randomized, double-blinded study
  50. [Comparative effects of policosanol and two HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on type II hypercholesterolemia]
  51. A comparative study of policosanol Versus acipimox in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia
  52. [A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of food supplement policosanol in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia]
  53. Effect of sugar cane policosanol on lipid profile in primary hypercholesterolemia
  54. Sugar cane policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in primitive, diet-resistant hypercholesterolaemia: a double blind, controlled study
  55. Wheat germ policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects with normal to mildly elevated cholesterol concentrations
  56. Effect of policosanol on lipid levels among patients with hypercholesterolemia or combined hyperlipidemia: a randomized controlled trial
  57. Effects of a policosanol supplement on serum lipid concentrations in hypercholesterolaemic and heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemic subjects
  58. Lack of cholesterol-lowering efficacy of Cuban sugar cane policosanols in hypercholesterolemic persons
  59. Policosanol is ineffective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial
  60. Comparative lipid-lowering effects of policosanol and atorvastatin: a randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
  61. Modified-policosanol does not reduce plasma lipoproteins in hyperlipidemic patients when used alone or in combination with statin therapy
  62. Policosanol for managing human immunodeficiency virus-related dyslipidemia in a medically underserved population: a randomized, controlled clinical trial
  63. Effects of policosanol treatment on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) isolated from healthy volunteers to oxidative modification in vitro
  64. Sugar cane policosanols do not reduce LDL oxidation in hypercholesterolemic individuals
  65. Antiplatelet effects of policosanol (20 and 40 mg/day) in healthy volunteers and dyslipidaemic patients
  66. Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers
  67. Effect of policosanol successive dose increases on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers
  68. Comparative study of policosanol, aspirin and the combination therapy policosanol-aspirin on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers
  69. Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation and serum levels of arachidonic acid metabolites in healthy volunteers
  70. Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation in type II hypercholesterolemic patients
  71. Long-term therapy with policosanol improves treadmill exercise-ECG testing performance of coronary heart disease patients
  72. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of policosanol in patients with intermittent claudication
  73. Rice policosanol does not have any effects on blood coagulation factors in hypercholesterolemic patients
  74. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions of echinacea and policosanol with warfarin in healthy subjects
  75. Executive Summary of The Third Report of The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, And Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol In Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III)
  76. Effects of addition of policosanol to omega-3 fatty acid therapy on the lipid profile of patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia
  77. Effect of omega-3 and policosanol supplementation on attention and reactivity in athletes
  78. Policosanol, reaction time and event-related potentials
  79. Effects of some natural extracts on the acetylcholine release at the mouse neuromuscular junction
  80. Policosanol prevents bone loss in ovariectomized rats
  81. In vivo effects of bisphosphonates on the osteoclast mevalonate pathway
  82. D-003 and warfarin interaction on the bleeding time and venous thrombosis experimentally induced in rats
  83. Synergistic effect of D-003 and aspirin on experimental thrombosis models
  84. Antiatherosclerotic efficacy of policosanol, red yeast rice extract and astaxanthin in the rabbit
  85. Carcinogenicity of policosanol in mice: an 18-month study
  86. A 12-month study of policosanol oral toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats
  87. Evaluation of peri- and post-natal toxicity of Policosanol in rats
  88. A 6-Month Study on the Toxicity of High Doses of Policosanol Orally Administered to Sprague-Dawley Rats
  89. Teratogenic and reproductive studies of policosanol in the rat and rabbit
  90. Effects of policosanol chronically administered in male monkeys (Macaca arctoides)
  91. Carcinogenicity of policosanol in Sprague Dawley rats: a 24 month study


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