What Are Policosanol's Benefits?
Policosanol is a
dietary supplement that is a mixture of fatty alcohols from plant waxes. It is claimed to be useful for a few different conditions, including:
- High cholesterol
- Intermittent claudication (leg pain associated with peripheral artery disease).
There is conflicting evidence about policosanol and high
cholesterol. Several studies from a manufacturer of the supplement in Cuba have shown that it can lower total cholesterol and
LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) and can
increase HDL cholesterol ("high" cholesterol).
However, studies that were conducted outside of Cuba have shown contradictory results. Some people argue that this occurred because Cuban policosanol is different from policosanol in the United States, due to trade restrictions with Cuba. However, even studies that have used the Cuban policosanol products showed no benefit. At this point, there is not enough evidence to say for sure whether the supplement is effective at treating high cholesterol.
Early studies suggest that policosanol may be effective for intermittent claudication, but more research is necessary before it can be recommended for this use.
How Does Policosanol Work?
It is not exactly known how policosanol works to
lower cholesterol. It may decrease the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver and may increase the breakdown of cholesterol in the body.
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