Treatment for hypercholesterolemia: The effectiveness of Policosanol in lowering cholesterol appears to have been demonstrated in several studies[6][7]. It would induce an inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis in liver cells, by activation of AMP-Kinase[8], which would present an alternative to statins in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia[9].

Prevention of cardiovascular disorders: Some studies indicate that Policosanol has an antiplatelet action[10][11], making it possible to prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Taking between 5 and 10 mg/day would then have beneficial effects on cardiovascular function[12].

Treatment of intermittent claudication: Policosanol may also have a vasodilatory effect. By this activity, it would be able to relieve the symptoms of intermittent claudication[13][14].

Neurological Interactions: A study in athletes found that taking 10 mg of policosanol and fish oil daily could reduce reaction time by 20 milliseconds[15]. This treatment could then lead to improved performance.

Precautions for use of policosanol

Side effects: One study in a group of approximately 27,000 people detected side effects in only 86 subjects. Among this sample, the most common effects are weight loss, polyuria, headache, dizziness, insomnia and polyphagia[12].

Few toxic effects: Many studies claim that policosanol would be well tolerated with a daily intake of 5 to 20 mg. A study involving 2252 people over 60 years of age, who were treated between 6 and 36 months, seems to demonstrate the good long-term tolerance of the product[16]. Clinical studies associated with a pharmacological study would prove this absence of toxicity of policosanol[17].

Because of its activity on platelets, policosanol should not be taken in the week before surgery.

[1] Kabir Y., Kimura S. Tissue distribution of (8-14C)-octacosanol in liver and muscle of rats after serial administration. Ann Nutr Metab. 1995;39(5):279-84

[2] Kim, J. et al. Consumption of policosanol enhances HDL functionality via CETP inhibition and reduces blood pressure and visceral fat in young and middle-aged subjects. International Journal of Molecular Medicine. 2017, 39(4):889-899

[3] Kim, S. et al. Consumption of high-dose vitamin C (1250 mg per day) enhances functional and structural properties of serum lipoprotein to improve anti-oxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-aging effects via regulation of anti-inflammatory microRNA. Food Funct., 2015, 6(11), pp.3604-3612

[4] Lee, E., Yoo, J., Lim, S. and Cho, K. Anti-Aging and Tissue Regeneration Ability of Policosanol Along with Lipid-Lowering Effect in Hyperlipidemic Zebrafish via Enhancement of High-Density Lipoprotein Functionality. Rejuvenation Research, 2016, 19(2), pp.149-158

[5] Lim, S., Yoo, J., Lee, E. and Cho, K. Enhancement of High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Functions by Encapsulation of Policosanol Exerts Anti-Senescence and Tissue Regeneration Effects Via Improvement of Anti-Glycation, Anti-Apoptosis, and Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Inhibition. Rejuvenation Research, 2016, 19(1), pp.59-70.

[6] Gouni-Berthold, I. and Berthold, H. Policosanol: Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent. American Heart Journal, 2002, 143(2), pp.356-365

[7] Chen, J. et al. Meta-Analysis of Natural Therapies for Hyperlipidemia: Plant Sterols and Stanols versus Policosanol. Pharmacotherapy, 2005, 25(2), pp.171-183

[8] Mazière, C., Mazière, J., Houtia, N., Lauga, J. and Polonovski, J. Effects of the Antithrombotic Drug Suloctidil on Low Density Lipoprotein Processing and Cholesterol Metabolism in Cultured Human Fibroblasts. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, 1988, 26(1)

[9]  Singh, D. Policosanol Inhibits Cholesterol Synthesis in Hepatoma Cells by Activation of AMP-Kinase. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 2006, 318(3), pp.1020-1026

[10]  Arruzazabala, M. et al. Antiplatelet effects of policosanol (20 and 40 mg/day) in healthy volunteers and dyslipidaemic patients. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 2002, 29(10), pp.891-897.

[11]  Arruzazabala ML, Mas R, et al. Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation in type II hypercholesterolemic patients. Int J Tissue React. 1998, 20(4):119-24.

[12] Janikula M. Policosanol: a new treatment for cardiovascular disease? Altern Med Rev. 2002 Jun;7(3):203-17.

[13] Castano, G. Effects of Policosanol and Ticlopidine in Patients with Intermittent Claudication: A Double-Blinded Pilot Comparative Study. Angiology, 2004, 55(4), pp.361-371.

[14]  Castano, G. et al. A Long-Term Study of Policosanol in the Treatment of Intermittent Claudication. Angiology, 2001, 52(2), pp.115-125.

[15]  Irmak, S. and Dunford, N. Policosanol Contents and Compositions of Wheat Varieties. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 20015, 53(14), pp.5583-5586

[16] Mesa, A. et al. Toxicity of policosanol in beagle dogs: one-year study. Toxicology Letters, 1994, 73(2), pp.81-90

[17] Fernández, S. et al. A pharmacological surveillance study of the tolerability of policosanol in the elderly population. The American Journal of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, 2004, 2(4), pp.219-229.