POLICOSANOL

OTHER NAME(S):

32-C, Dotriacontanol, Heptacosanol, Hexacosanol, Nonacosanol, Octacosanol, Tetracosanol, Tétracosanol, Tetratriacontanol, Tétratriacontanol, Triacontanol.

Read Reviews (43)

Overview

Overview Information

Policosanol is a chemical most often obtained from sugar cane. It can also be made from other plants, such as wheat.

Policosanol is most commonly used for leg pain during exercise due to poor blood flow (intermittent claudication). It is also used for high cholesterol and heart disease, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work?

Policosanol seems to decrease cholesterol production in the liver and to increase the breakdown of LDL (low-density lipoprotein or "bad") cholesterol. It might also help HDL (high-density lipoprotein or "good") cholesterol work better. Policosanol also decreases the stickiness of particles in the blood known as platelets.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Likely Effective for

Leg pain during exercise due to poor blood flow (intermittent claudication). Taking policosanol by mouth seems to improve the distance people with intermittent claudication can walk without pain.

Insufficient Evidence for

A procedure to open a blocked or narrowed blood vessel (angioplasty). Early research shows that taking policosanol does not help to decrease platelet activity in people who have had an angioplasty with a stent.
Heart disease. Early research shows that taking policosanol, alone or with aspirin for 20 months, can reduce heart disease-related events in people with clogged arteries.
Inherited tendency towards high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia). Early research shows that taking policosanol does not reduce total cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol) in people with inherited high cholesterol.
High cholesterol. Research findings disagree about the effectiveness of policosanol for treating high cholesterol. There have been some studies that find it effective. However, most of these studies were done in Cuba, where the sugar cane that is used to make policosanol is grown. Most research done outside Cuba (in Germany, Canada, and South Africa) found that policosanol does not lower cholesterol.
High blood pressure. Some early research shows that taking policosanol might lower blood pressure in people who are beginning to have high blood pressure.
Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate policosanol for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

When taken by mouth: Policosanol is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken in doses of 5-80 mg daily for up to 3 years. Side effects of policosanol are generally mild and can include headaches, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, upset stomach, skin redness, or weight loss. But these side effects are relatively uncommon.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if policosanol is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Bleeding disorders: Policosanol can slow blood clotting and might increase the chance of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Diabetes: Policosanol might reduce blood sugar levels. Taking policosanol might increase the risk of blood sugar levels becoming too low, especially if you are using insulin or other diabetes medications.

Surgery: Policosanol can slow blood clotting and reduce blood sugar levels. There is a concern that it might increase the chance of extra bleeding or blood sugar falling too low during and after surgery. Stop using policosanol at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Interactions?

Major Interaction

Do not take this combination

!

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with POLICOSANOL

Policosanol might slow blood clotting. Taking policosanol along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

For leg pain during exercise due to poor blood flow (intermittent claudication): 10 mg of policosanol has been taken once or twice daily for up to 2 years.

View References

REFERENCES:

Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez L, et al. Effects of policosanol 20 versus 40 mg/day in the treatment of patients with type II hypercholesterolemia: a 6-month double-blind study. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Res. 2001;21:43-57. View abstract.
Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez L, et al. Effects of policosanol on postmenopausal women with type II hypercholesterolemia. Gynecol.Endocrinol. 2000;14:187-195. View abstract.
Castano G, Mas R, Gamez R, et al. Concomitant use of policosanol and beta-blockers in older patients. Int J Clin Pharmacol.Res 2004;24:65-77. View abstract.
Castano G, Mas R, Roca J, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of policosanol in patients with intermittent claudication. Angiology 1999;50:123-30. View abstract.
Castano G, Menendez R, Mas R, et al. Effects of policosanol and lovastatin on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in patients with dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Res. 2002;22:89-99. View abstract.
Castano G, Tula L, Canetti M, et al. Effects of policosanol in hypertensive patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. Curr Ther Res 1996;57:691-5.
Castano G1, Mas R, Fernandez JC, et al. Effects of policosanol on older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia. Drugs R.D. 2002;3:159-172. View abstract.
Chen JT, Wesley R, Shamburek RD, et al. Meta-Analysis of natural therapies for hyperlipidemia: plant sterols and stanols versus policosanol. Pharmacotherapy 2005;25:171-83. View abstract.
Cicero, AF, Rovati LC, and Setnikar I. Eulipidemic effects of berberine administered alone or in combination with other natural cholesterol-lowering agents. A single-blind clinical investigation. Arzneimittelforschung. 2007;57:26-30. View abstract.
Crespo N, Illnait J, Mas R, et al. Comparative study of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol and lovastatin in patients with hypercholesterolemia and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Res. 1999;19:117-127. View abstract.
Cubeddu LX, Cubeddu RJ, Heimowitz T, et al. Comparative lipid-lowering effects of policosanol and atorvastatin: a randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Am Heart J 2006;152:982-985. View abstract.
Dulin MF, Hatcher LF, Sasser HC, Barringer TA. Policosanol is ineffective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;84:1543-1548. View abstract.
Fernandez JC, Mas R, Castano G, et al. Comparison of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of policosanol versus fluvastatin in elderly hypercholesterolaemic women. Clin Drug Invest. 2001;21:103–13.
Fernandez L, Mas R, Illnait J, Fernandez JC. Policosanol: results of a postmarketing surveillance study of 27,879 patients. Curr Ther Res 1998;59(10):717-22.
Francini-Pesenti F, Beltramolli D, Dall'acqua S, Brocadello F. Effect of sugar cane policosanol on lipid profile in primary hypercholesterolemia. Phytother Res 2008;22:318-322. View abstract.
Castano G, Mas R, Arruzazabala ML, et al. Effects of policosanol and pravastatin on lipid profile, platelet aggregation and endothelemia in older hypercholesterolemic patients. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Res. 1999;19:105-116. View abstract.
Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez JC, et al. Effects of policosanol in older patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and high coronary risk. J.Gerontol.A Biol.Sci.Med.Sci. 2001;56:M186-M192. View abstract.
Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez L, et al. A comparison of the effects of D-003 and policosanol (5 and 10 mg/day) in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia: a randomized, double-blinded study. Drugs Exp Clin Res 2005;31 Suppl:31-44. View abstract.
Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez L, et al. Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol with atorvastatin in elderly patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia. Drugs Aging 2003;20:153-63. View abstract.
Alcocer, L., Fernandez, L., Campos, E., and Mas, R. A comparative study of policosanol Versus acipimox in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. Int.J.Tissue React. 1999;21(3):85-92. View abstract.
Aleman, C. L., Mas, R., Hernandez, C., Rodeiro, I., Cerejido, E., Noa, M., Capote, A., Menendez, R., Amor, A., Fraga, V., and . A 12-month study of policosanol oral toxicity in Sprague Dawley rats. Toxicol.Lett. 1994;70(1):77-87. View abstract.
Aleman, C. L., Puig, M. N., Elias, E. C., Ortega, C. H., Guerra, I. R., Ferreiro, R. M., and Brinis, F. Carcinogenicity of policosanol in mice: an 18-month study. Food Chem.Toxicol. 1995;33(7):573-578. View abstract.
Arruzazabala, M. L., Carbajal, D., Mas, R., Valdes, S., and Molina, V. Pharmacological Interaction Between Policosanol and Nitroprusside in Rats. J Med Food 2001;4(2):67-70. View abstract.
Arruzazabala, M. L., Noa, M., Menendez, R., Mas, R., Carbajal, D., Valdes, S., and Molina, V. Protective effect of policosanol on atherosclerotic lesions in rabbits with exogenous hypercholesterolemia. Braz.J Med Biol.Res 2000;33(7):835-840. View abstract.
Castano, G., Mas, Ferreiro R., Fernandez, L., Gamez, R., Illnait, J., and Fernandez, C. A long-term study of policosanol in the treatment of intermittent claudication. Angiology 2001;52(2):115-125. View abstract.
Castano, G., Mas, R., Fernandez, L., Gamez, R., and Illnait, J. Effects of policosanol and lovastatin in patients with intermittent claudication: a double-blind comparative pilot study. Angiology 2003;54(1):25-38. View abstract.
Castano, G., Mas, R., Gamez, R., Fernandez, L., and Illnait, J. Effects of policosanol and ticlopidine in patients with intermittent claudication: a double-blinded pilot comparative study. Angiology 2004;55(4):361-371. View abstract.
Cholesterol-lowering action of policosanol compares well to that of pravastatin and lovastatin. Cardiovasc.J.S.Afr. 2003;14(3):161. View abstract.
Fontani, G., Maffei, D., and Lodi, L. Policosanol, reaction time and event-related potentials. Neuropsychobiology 2000;41(3):158-165. View abstract.
Gamez, R., Aleman, C. L., Mas, R., Noa, M., Rodeiro, I., Garcia, H., Hernandez, C., Menendez, R., and Aguilar, C. A 6-Month Study on the Toxicity of High Doses of Policosanol Orally Administered to Sprague-Dawley Rats. J Med Food 2001;4(2):57-65. View abstract.
Illnait, J., Castano, G., Alvarez, E., Fernandez, L., Mas, R., Mendoza, S., and Gamez, R. Effects of policosanol (10 mg/d) versus aspirin (100 mg/d) in patients with intermittent claudication: a 10-week, randomized, comparative study. Angiology 2008;59(3):269-277. View abstract.
Janikula, M. Policosanol: a new treatment for cardiovascular disease? Altern.Med.Rev. 2002;7(3):203-217. View abstract.
Kassis, A. N. and Jones, P. J. Changes in cholesterol kinetics following sugar cane policosanol supplementation: a randomized control trial. Lipids Health Dis 2008;7:17. View abstract.
Kassis, A. N. Evaluation of cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant properties of sugar cane policosanols in hamsters and humans. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2008;33(3):540-541. View abstract.
Mas, R., Castano, G., Fernandez, J., Gamez, R. R., Illnait, J., Fernandez, L., Lopez, E., Mesa, M., Alvarez, E., and Mendoza, S. Long- term effects of policosanol on older patients with Type 2 diabetes. Asia Pac.J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S101. View abstract.
Menendez, R., Mas, R., Amor, A. M., Gonzalez, R. M., Fernandez, J. C., Rodeiro, I., Zayas, M., and Jimenez, S. Effects of policosanol treatment on the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) isolated from healthy volunteers to oxidative modification in vitro. Br.J.Clin.Pharmacol. 2000;50(3):255-262. View abstract.
Mesa, A. R., Mas, R., Noa, M., Hernandez, C., Rodeiro, I., Gamez, R., Garcia, M., Capote, A., and Aleman, C. L. Toxicity of policosanol in beagle dogs: one-year study. Toxicol.Lett. 1994;73(2):81-90. View abstract.
Mirkin, A., Mas, R., Martinto, M., Boccanera, R., Robertis, A., Poudes, R., Fuster, A., Lastreto, E., Yanez, M., Irico, G., McCook, B., and Farre, A. Efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Res. 2001;21(1):31-41. View abstract.
Prat, H., Roman, O., and Pino, E. [Comparative effects of policosanol and two HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on type II hypercholesterolemia]. Rev.Med.Chil. 1999;127(3):286-294. View abstract.
Reiner, Z. and Tedeschi-Reiner, E. Rice policosanol does not have any effects on blood coagulation factors in hypercholesterolemic patients. Coll.Antropol. 2007;31(4):1061-1064. View abstract.
Rodriguez-Echenique, C., Mesa, R., Mas, R., Noa, M., Menendez, R., Gonzalez, R. M., Amor, A. M., Fraga, V., Sotolongo, V., and Laguna, A. Effects of policosanol chronically administered in male monkeys (Macaca arctoides). Food Chem.Toxicol. 1994;32(6):565-575. View abstract.
Tedeschi-Reiner, E., Reiner, Z., Romic, Z., and Ivankovic, D. [A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the antilipemic efficacy and tolerability of food supplement policosanol in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia]. Lijec.Vjesn. 2005;127(11-12):273-279. View abstract.
Abdul MI, Jiang X, Williams KM, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions of echinacea and policosanol with warfarin in healthy subjects. Br J Clin.Pharmacol. 2010;69:508-15. View abstract.
Arruzazabala ML, Mas R, Molina V, et al. Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation in type II hypercholesterolemic patients. Int J Tissue React 1998;20:119-24. View abstract.
Arruzazabala ML, Molina V, Mas R, et al. Antiplatelet effects of policosanol (20 and 40 mg/day) in healthy volunteers and dyslipidaemic patients. Clin.Exp.Pharmacol.Physiol 2002;29:891-897. View abstract.
Arruzazabala ML, Valdes S, Mas R, et al. Comparative study of policosanol, aspirin and the combination therapy policosanol-aspirin on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers. Pharmacol Res 1997;36:293-7. View abstract.
Arruzazabala ML, Valdes S, Mas R, et al. Effect of policosanol successive dose increases on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers. Pharmacol Res 1996;34:181-5. View abstract.
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Canetti M, Moreira M, Mas R, et al. A two-year study on the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinaemia. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 1995;15:159-65. View abstract.
Carbajal D, Arruzazabala ML, Valdes S, Mas R. Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation and serum levels of arachidonic acid metabolites in healthy volunteers. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 1998;58:61-4. View abstract.
Castano G, Canetti M, Moreira M, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in elderly patients with type II hypercholesterolemia: A 12-month study. Curr Ther Res 1995;56:819-23.
Castano G, Fernandez L, Mas R, et al. Comparison of the efficacy, safety and tolerability of original policosanol versus other mixtures of higher aliphatic primary alcohols in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia. Int.J.Clin.Pharmacol.Res. 2002;22:55-66. View abstract.
Castano G, Fernandez L, Mas R, et al. Effects of addition of policosanol to omega-3 fatty acid therapy on the lipid profile of patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia. Drugs R.D 2005;6:207-219. View abstract.
Castaño G, Fernández L, Mas R, Illnait J, Mesa M, Fernández JC. Comparison of the effects of policosanol and atorvastatin on lipid profile and platelet aggregation in patients with dyslipidaemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clin Drug Investig. 2003;23(10):639-50. View abstract.
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Mas R, Castano G, Fernandez J, et al. Long-term effects of policosanol on obese patients with Type II Hypercholesterolemia. Asia Pac.J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S102.
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Xu K, Liu X, Li Y, Wang Y, Zang H, Guo L, et al. Safety and efficacy of policosanol in patients with high on-treatment platelet reactivity after drug-eluting stent implantation: two-year follow-up results. Cardiovasc Ther. 2016 Oct;34(5):337-42. doi: 10.1111/1755-5922.12204. View abstract.

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