Policosanol: How does Policosanol Bees Wax extract
lower cholesterol?
How Policosanol Works
While the benefits and safety of Policosanol have been proven in several well-designed clinical studies, the exact mechanism of action is not completely understood. Policosanol inhibits cholesterol's synthesis at the earliest steps of cholesterol's production process. It is believed to help maintain normal cholesterol production in the liver, and to promote normal LDL-cholesterol uptake by the body's tissues. Studies have shown Policosanol does not inhibit the activity of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase in the liver.
According to the National Library of Medicine, Policosanol and Lovastatin drug are similar in the results from consumption, but it is Policosanol that is far greater in it's overall effectiveness to maintain cholesterol levels while being gentle on the stomach.
In fact, "Both groups were similar at randomization. Policosanol significantly (p < 0.001) lowered low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (20.4%), total cholesterol (14.2%) and the ratio of LDL-cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (23.7%). Lovastatin significantly (p < 0.01) lowered LDL-cholesterol (16.8%), total cholesterol (14.0%) and the ratio (p < 0.05) of LDL-cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (14.9%). Triglyceride levels did not significantly change after therapy. Policosanol, but not lovastatin, significantly increased (p < 0.01) levels of HDL-cholesterol (7.5%). Comparison between groups showed that changes in HDL-cholesterol induced by policosanol were significantly greater (p < 0.01) than those induced by lovastatin. Both treatments were safe and well tolerated. Lovastatin moderately but significantly (p < 0.05) increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase and alkaline phosphatase. Adverse reactions were more frequent in the lovastatin group (p < 0.01) than in the policosanol group. In conclusion, policosanol administered at 10 mg/day produces more advantageous changes in HDL-cholesterol and has a better safety and tolerability profile than lovastatin 20 mg/day."
Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1999;19(4):117-27.
PMID: 10939029 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
"The treatment effect on total cholesterol and LDL-C was maintained during the 2-year follow up. Thus, percent reductions 24 months after therapy were 25% (LDL-C) and 18% (cholesterol). All comparisons with placebo were significant. Similarly, ratios of LDL-C to HDL-C and cholesterol to HDL-C were significantly reduced and such decreases were maintained during the study. Policosanol raised significantly the values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) during the study and maximal increases were reached 12 months after therapy (+21%). From this time the increases mildly declined to +14% and +11.2% respectively at 18 and 24 months after therapy. No significant changes in triglycerides were observed as compared with baseline or placebo. No patient withdrew from the study because of adverse effects. No drug-related clinical or biochemical adverse side-effects were observed."
PMID: 8871266 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Policosanol is also very effective for treating postmenopausal women. In fact, according to the National Library of Medicine, "Policosanol (5 and 10 mg/day) significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol (17.3% and 26.7%, respectively), total cholesterol (12.9% and 19.5%) as well as the ratios of LDL-cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (17.2% and 26.5%) and total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (16.3% and 21.0%) compared with baseline and placebo. HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly raised by 7.4% at study completion. No significant changes occurred in the lipid profile of the placebo group. The drug was safe and well tolerated. No drug-related adverse effects were observed.:
PMID: 11708573 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Thus concluding that the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women is seen with the changes in cholesterol levels above.
Even in rabbits, the cholesterol lowering effect of consumption can be seen. According to the National Library of Medicine, "Policosanol (5-200 mg/kg) orally administered for 4 weeks to normocholesterolemic New Zealand rabbits significantly reduced total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) serum levels in a dose dependent manner. Serum triglyceride levels of treated and control animals were significantly different, but the reduction observed was not dose-dependent."
Showing when rabbits consume Policosanol, it helps to maintain their cholesterol levels as well.
Even now, the general public is starting to hear about Policosanol because there's a buzz on its cholesterol-lowering effects from consumption of this beeswax extract, according to Reuters Limited article shown below:
"BOSTON (Reuters Health) - A powder extracted from beeswax could one day offer a cheap, non-toxic way to reduce cholesterol, reported researchers from a Colorado company at the recent American Chemical Society meeting here.
But one expert argues that findings on the effectiveness of the extract must be independently confirmed, and that his own research has found no cholesterol-lowering benefit for similar substances.
The beeswax powder contains a mix of long alcohol molecules known as policosanol, which is found in virtually all waxy plant materials. Rod Lenoble, technical director of natural products company Hauser Inc. in Longmont, Colorado, described his company's development of the beeswax extract, along with promising data from a similar product made in Cuba from sugar cane wax. Due to trade restrictions, the Cuban extract cannot be sold in the US.
To date, Cuban scientists have conducted 15 trials of the sugar cane wax product with more than 1,000 patients, and have also compared the product to statins, the powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to millions of people with heart disease.
People given 5 to 20 milligrams (mg) of the extract daily saw their total cholesterol drop 17% to 19%, with LDL ("bad") cholesterol dropping by roughly 25%, Lenoble reported. While most of the studies found no effect on HDL ("good") cholesterol, the two largest studies, both lasting a year, found the extract increased good cholesterol by nearly 30%, he said.
And when Cuban researchers compared the product to five commercially available statins, they found the sugar cane wax extract compared favorably when it came to lowering both total and LDL cholesterol, Lenoble said."
Health eLine 2002-09-17 Copyright 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Lastly, according to the Modern Maturity, Policosanol is a Wonder Wax! "Originally pioneered as a cholesterol treatment in Cuba, over a dozen subsequent clinical trials overseas suggest that policosanol—a naturally occurring waxy substance extracted from beeswax and sugar cane—can indeed improve lipids significantly by lowering LDL by 20-25 percent while modestly boosting HDL. How policosanol works is not well understood, but researchers believe it inhibits cholesterol production by the liver and also increases the uptake of LDL from the bloodstream into body cells. Unlike statin drugs, policosanol has not been linked to muscle or liver problems. It takes up to 12 weeks, however, for policosanol to work. It's sold as a dietary supplement in pill form by a variety of companies."
Possible Benefits - Cholestin with Policosanol from Bees Wax Extract
- Maintains existing normal cholesterol levels already within the healthy range
- Helps prevent oxidation of LDL cholesterol*
- Natural complement to a healthy diet and exercise
- 100% Natural - not a pharmaceutical drug
- Safe, Natural and effective
- Proven safe and effective by over 15 clinical trials
Recommended Adult Use
Policosanol should be used as a dietary supplement for healthy adults concerned about maintaining desirable cholesterol levels already within the healthy range. Policosanol is intended for use as part of a cholesterol maintenance program that includes a healthy diet with reduced saturated fats and high cholesterol foods and includes regular exercise. Policosanol is not intended or recommended for treating a disease. If medical treatment is needed for cholesterol control, please contact a physician.
Directions for Users
Take two (2) softgel capsules (30 mg) once daily, preferably with your evening meal.
Storage
Store in cool, dry place. Avoid excessive
heat. Protect from being exposed to direct light.
Is Cholestin with Policosanol right for me?
Cholesterol is essential to life. It plays an important role in building cells and in the production of vitamin D and some hormones. Too much cholesterol, however, can be detrimental to your health –especially your cardiovascular system. Incorporating an all-natural ingredient extracted from the wax of honey bees (Apis mellifera) called policosanol to effectively maintain existing normal cholesterol levels.* An estimated 65 million Americans have cholesterol levels considered by medical experts as suboptimal. These individuals should take a proactive approach to managing normal cholesterol levels with diet and lifestyle changes, which may also include a cholesterol maintaining supplement such as Policosanol.
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