Policosanol is an herbal supplement that consists of fatty alcohol derived from plant waxes. It is often claimed to help
lower cholesterol.
It is not exactly clear how policosanol works to lower
cholesterol. It is thought that the supplement may decrease the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver and may increase the breakdown of cholesterol in the body.
Is Policosanol Effective?
There is not enough evidence to know for sure if policosanol is effective at treating
high cholesterol, and scientific evidence, to date, is not conclusive
(see Does Policosanol Work? for more information).
Because policosanol is a
dietary supplement, not a drug, it has not been thoroughly studied. As a result, dosing information has not yet been clearly established.
Even though it is a "natural" product, policosanol can cause side effects, such as:
(Click Side Effects of Policosanol to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
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