Policosanol

Policosanol is a unique all-natural product that is selectively purified from sugarcane wax or beeswax that is safe and effective for lowering total cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol), and for elevating HDL (good cholesterol). It consists of eight aliphatic alcohols. It has been extensively studied over the past decade in both animals and humans (see studies below).

Purchasing policosanol
On June 30, 2025 I searched the internet to find sources of policosanol. I found Cholestin. It comes as 30 capsules with 15 mg of policosanol. The retail price was $39.95 + shipping and handling (on the site I visited, you had to create an account to be able to order, so I didn’t take the time to find out how much the shipping and handling would be, or if they charged tax). But, you could get 2 for the price of one with your first order.

We now carry policosanol at our office. As you may know, one of the manufacturers of supplements that I buy from directly is Metagenics (www.Metagenics.com). Having read of the excellent research that has been done with policosanol and its effectiveness compared to prescription drugs, I began to carry it here at the office. The product name is Cholarest. It contains 30 gel caps containing 10 mg of policosanol each.

Effects of policosanol in older patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk
It is now widely known that coronary artery disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. While clinical studies have convincingly demonstrated that lowering both total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels may result in primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease, additional interventions are often necessary.

As a result, several cholesterol-lowering drugs have been developed. However, despite the effectiveness of these drugs in reducing the severity of hypercholesterolemia, research concludes that elderly patients are especially susceptible to the adverse side effects that often accompany use of these drugs. Thus, elderly patients should be extremely cautious before beginning any cholesterol-lowering drug program.

In response to these dangers, Dr. Gladys Castaño and colleagues sought to investigate the effects of policosanol in 179 elderly patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk. Patients received 5 mg/day policosanol or placebo for 12 weeks and 10 mg/day policosanol or placebo for the next 12 weeks.

Upon completion of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, Dr. Castaño and colleagues reported in the Journal of Gerontology that policosanol was shown to be "effective, safe, and well tolerated in older hypercholesterolemic patients."

Investigators concluded that policosanol (5 and 10 mg/day) significantly reduced both LDL (16.9% and 24.4%, respectively) and total cholesterol levels (12.8% and 16.2%, respectively), while significantly increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (14.6% and 29.1%, respectively). It also improved overall cardiovascular capacity, decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and inhibited platelet aggregation.

Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation in type II hypercholesterolemic patients
The results of this research have been quite impressive and indicate that policosanol not only significantly lowers cholesterol levels but may also have beneficial effects on other parameters of cardiovascular function, such as reducing platelet aggregation and inhibiting the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Elevated platelet aggregation and atherosclerotic lesions can cause blood clots of harmful magnitude, which may result in a heart attack or stroke.

While several studies have shown antiplatelet effects of policosanol in rats and healthy volunteers, Dr. Arruzazabala and colleagues wanted to verify the antiplatelet effects of policosanol in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia.

Therefore, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to investigate the effects of policosanol on arachidonic and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in 27 type II hypercholesterolemic patients. Patients were put on a standard lipid-lowering diet and were randomized to receive 10 mg/day of either policosanol or placebo for 30 days.

Upon conclusion of the study, Dr. Arruzazabala and colleagues reported in the International Journal of Tissue Reaction that "policosanol administered at a dose commonly used as a cholesterol-lowering agent (10 mg/day) effectively inhibits arachidonic acid and collagen-induced platelet aggregation in type II hypercholesterolemic patients, including those showing evident platelet hyperactivity." Furthermore, the authors stated that "no adverse events occurred during the trial."

Comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol and Lovastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of death. Among the many CHD risk factors, such as diet and lifestyle, is the association between type II diabetes and hypercholesterolemia.

Many therapies are available to assist in reducing cholesterol, two of which include policosanol and Lovastatin. Policosanol is a natural cholesterol-lowering treatment obtained from sugarcane wax and beeswax, while Lovastatin is a drug also known for its ability to reduce cholesterol levels.

While policosanol and Lovastatin share many characteristics, Dr. N. Crespo and colleagues speculated in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacological Research that Lovastatin produces "several drug-related adverse effects such as increases in serum transaminases, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), gastrointestinal disturbances and myopathies, among others." On the other hand, Dr. Crespo and colleagues stated that, "policosanol is very safe and well tolerated and no drug-related adverse reactions have been demonstrated in clinical studies."

Dr. Crespo and colleagues established a study in order to compare and confer their knowledge of policosanol in comparison to Lovastatin. Fifty-three patients with similar baseline characteristics were chosen to participate in the study. All patients had been previously diagnosed with type II diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. In addition to a low cholesterol, low saturated fat diet, patients were instructed to take either policosanol (10 mg/day tablets) or Lovastatin (20 mg/day tablets) for 12 weeks.

Upon conclusion of the study, policosanol was shown to significantly reduce LDL-cholesterol (20.4%) and total cholesterol (14.2%). Policosanol was also shown to significantly raise levels of HDL-cholesterol (7.5%). This is in contrast to Lovastatin, which did not affect the "good" HDL-cholesterol levels. Like policosanol, Lovastatin was shown to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels (16.8%) and total cholesterol levels (14.0%).

Under Lovastatin, five patients reported adverse reactions that were so severe, they were forced to withdraw from the study. In addition, one patient in the Lovastatin group described "moderate adverse reactions consisting of uncontrolled hypertension." By the end of the study, ten additional patients in the Lovastatin group "reported other adverse reactions."

Dr. Crespo and colleagues concluded that "policosanol administered at 10 mg/day produces more advantageous changes in cholesterol levels and has a better safety and tolerability profile than Lovastatin at 20 mg/day."