Health Claims

Policosanol is thought to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol and increase HDL ("good") cholesterol. Manufacturers of policosanol use either sugar cane wax or rice wax to make this supplement. Cubans have taken it for decades to control their cholesterol. How It Works Your body produces almost 85 percent of its blood cholesterol in your liver, and experts believe that policosanol impedes the work of enzymes critical to this production process. Policosanol also flushes dietary cholesterol from your body by blocking cholesterol receptors, found mostly in your liver. Evidence All human studies have been performed in Cuba with policosanol made from sugar cane wax. In a double-blind study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacological Research in 2001, scientists gave 29 participants 20 mg of policosanol daily and gave 30 other participants 40 mg daily. Researchers also gave 30 participants a placebo daily. After 24 weeks, both policosanol groups experienced a 27 percent drop in LDL cholesterol and a rise in HDL cholesterol of 17 percent. The placebo group experienced no beneficial changes in either LDL or HDL cholesterol levels. A double-blind study published in Gynecological Endocrinology in 2000 also reported benefits, and at lower dosages. After following a low-fat diet for six weeks without lowering their cholesterol, 244 women were given either a placebo for 24 weeks, or 5 mg of policosanol daily for the first 12 weeks followed by 10 mg daily for the next 12 weeks. The 10 mg dose lowered LDL by 25 percent and increased HDL by 29 percent. Participants who took the 5 mg dose lowered their LDL by 18 percent and increased their HDL by 17 percent. How to Take IT To lower cholesterol, take 5 mg of policosanol from sugar cane wax twice daily, recommend naturopathic physician Cheryl Deroin, N.D., and Mark Janikula, a naturopath in training who conducted a review study on policosanol research; both are at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona. Caveats No side effects or drug interactions have been reported. If you are taking a cholesterol-lowering medication, consult your health care practitioner before taking policosanol. Also talk to your health care practitioner if you are pregnant or nursing; the supplement has not been tested on pregnant or nursing women. Written by: Kate Sage

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