Policosanol - natural product lowers bad cholesterol

[Kathy]

I have recently learned of a natural product which works to lower the bad LDL - low density cholesterol, as well it lowers Total Cholesterol (TC) which includes the good cholesterol HDL - high density. (Keep in mind, the brain requires good cholesterol to function properly)

Apparently, a 20 mg dose/per day of Policosanol (derived from the sugar cane or rice) is as effective as 40 mg/day, so no need to take too much.

If you want to look up more studies on Policosanol, go to "Entrez Pubmed" and search "policosanol". Here is one example:

Pharmacotherapy. 2005 Feb;25(2):171-83. Related Articles, Links

Meta-analysis of natural therapies for hyperlipidemia: plant sterols and stanols versus policosanol.

Chen JT, Wesley R, Shamburek RD, Pucino F, Csako G.

School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2091, USA. [email protected]

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of plant sterols and stanols as well as policosanol in the treatment of coronary heart disease, as measured by a reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PATIENTS: A total of 4596 patients from 52 eligible studies. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library from January 1967-June 2003 to identify pertinent studies. Reduction of LDL levels was the primary end point; effects on other lipid parameters and withdrawal of study patients due to adverse effects were the secondary end points. Weighted estimates of percent change in LDL were -11.0% for plant sterol and stanol esters 3.4 g/day (range 2-9 g/day [893 patients]) versus -2.3% for placebo (769 patients) in 23 eligible studies, compared with -23.7% for policosanol 12 mg/day (range 5-40 mg/day [1528 patients]) versus -0.11% for placebo (1406 patients) in 29 eligible studies. Cumulative p values were significantly different from placebo for both (p<0.0001). The net LDL reduction in the treatment groups minus that in the placebo groups was greater with policosanol than plant sterols and stanols (-24% versus -10%, p<0.0001). Policosanol also affected total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), and triglyceride levels more favorably than plant sterols and stanols. Policosanol caused a clinically significant decrease in the LDL:HDL ratio. Pooled withdrawal rate due to adverse effects and combined relative risk for patients who withdrew were 0% and 0.84, respectively (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-1.95, p=0.69), for plant sterols and stanols across 20 studies versus 0.86% and 0.31, respectively (95% CI 0.20-0.48, p<0.0001), for policosanol across 28 studies. CONCLUSION: Plant sterols and stanols and policosanol are well tolerated and safe; however, policosanol is more effective than plant sterols and stanols for LDL level reduction and more favorably alters the lipid profile, approaching antilipemic drug efficacy.

If you don't want to be on the doctors cholesterol pills, with all of their side-effects (like damaging the liver), you should look into this product - and of course, discuss it with your doctor (he/she may have heard of it, but I doubt it!).

Cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease anyway. The research community now tells us that inflammation of the arteries caused by oxidative damage, is the main culprit.

High homocysteine levels in your blood is now exposed as one of the main villains of arterial inflammation. We are just beginning to use a product (capsules) that lowers homocysteine, it has in it:

Vit. B3 (Niacin as inositol hexanicotinate)- 150mg,
Vit. B6(as pyridoxal 5-phosphate) - 2.5 mg,
Vit. B6 (as pyridocine hydrochloride) - 12.5mg,
Vit B12 (as cyanocobalamine with dibasic calcium phosphate) - 500 mcg, Folate (as folic acid) - 800 mcg,
Magnesium (as magnesium chelate) - 15 mg
Zinc (as zinc chelate) - 2.5 mg

A site on the net that had some good points on this, can be found at:

http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/homocysteine.html

Homocysteine: A Cardiovascular Risk Factor Worth Considering
Stephen Barrett, M.D
........
During the past few years, elevated blood levels of homocysteine (a sulfur-containing amino acid) have been linked to increased risk of premature coronary artery disease, stroke, and thromboembolism (venous blood clots), even among people who have normal cholesterol levels. Abnormal homocysteine levels appear to contribute to atherosclerosis in at least three ways: (1) a direct toxic effect that damages the cells lining the inside of the arteries, (2) interference with clotting factors, and (3) oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL).

I really wanted to share this bit of information with the Board, because we personally know so many people on cholesterol drugs and blood pressure drugs. For the most part, they want off of them because of the side effects. I hope this info. is of use to some of you.