Cholesterol Re-Visited - Policosanol

Thanks to my med school classmate, Dr. Sheldon Steiner for reminding me of policosanol. This naturally occurring health-enhancing nutrient has moved to the top of my list! Back in the 1970’s policosanol (or Octacosanol) was touted as a treatment for Amotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It actually was not very good for that serious disease. Meanwhile, there are numerous studies reporting the benefit of policosanol in safely lowering cholesterol, at a relatively low dose of 10 to 20 mg, with minimal or no ”side effects”.

For instance, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involved 4596 patients from 52 separate studies. LDL was lowered 11% with plant sterols, such as my favorite beta-sitosterol complex (with 3.4 grams/day) in 23 studies versus 23.7% in 29 studies with policosanol (at only 12 mg/day). Policosanol also was better in raising HDL, lowering total cholesterol, and lowering triglycerides. Both compounds were remarkably well tolerated, with less than one percent of patients withdrawing from their study. Indeed policosanol is far superior to any cholesterol-lowering drug!! That means MUCH safer and MUCH less expensive than statin drugs, with which the PharmacoMafia wishes to poison everyone.

SO, MY LATEST RECOMMENDATIONS for optimal cholesterol (160 TO 180; NOT BELOW 150 HDL AT LEAST 40 TO 60):

DO NOT TAKE STATINS
KEEP YOUR WEIGHT BETWEEN 19 AND 24 BODY MASS INDEX
EAT WISELY, AVOIDING JUNK AND JUNK FAST FOOD, HYDROGENATED FATS, EXCESS CARBS
EXERCISE WISELY, AT LEAST AN HOUR A DAY
RELAX AND PRACTICE STRESS REDUCTION
IF YOUR CHOLESTEROL IS ABOVE 200, ADD 10 AND UP TO 20 MG OF POLICOSANOL (quality products are available at 888-242-6105)
Use only butter, olive oil and flax seed oils as added fats
If you are a man by age 50 take at least 1200 mg of beta sitosterol complex—up to 4200 mg to keep the prostate healthy
In men or women, if the policosanol does not lower cholesterol adequately, add at least 1200 mg of beta sitosterol complex and up to 4200 mg
If that does not work, add lecithin granules 2 heaping tablespoons twice daily
If that does not work, add L-Arginine 3000 mg daily
If that does not work, add L-Taurine 3000 mg daily

C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. is the father of holistic medicine. He recommends autogenic focus (the basis of the Biogenics System) as part of your overall commitment to self-health. Register to download your FREE autogenic focus MP3 now.

References:

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2. Gouni-Berthold, I. and H. K. Berthold (2002). ”Policosanol: clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent.” Am Heart J 143(2): 356-65.

3. Menendez, R., R. Mas, A. M. Amor, N. Ledon, J. Perez, R. M. Gonzalez, I. Rodeiro, M. Zayas and S. Jimenez (2002). ”Inhibition of rat lipoprotein lipid peroxidation by the oral administration of D003, a mixture of very long-chain saturated fatty acids.” Can J Physiol Pharmacol 80(1): 13-21.

4. Molina, V., M. L. Arruzazabala, D. Carbajal, S. Valdes, M. Noa, R. Mas, V. Fraga and R. Menendez (1999). ”Effect of policosanol on cerebral ischemia in Mongolian gerbils.” Braz J Med Biol Res 32(10): 1269-76.

5. Alcocer, L., L. Fernandez, E. Campos and R. Mas (1999). ”A comparative study of policosanol Versus acipimox in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia.” Int J Tissue React 21(3): 85-92.

6. Beltz, S. D. and P. L. Doering (1993). ”Efficacy of nutritional supplements used by athletes.” Clin Pharm 12(12): 900-8.

7. Castano, G., R. Mas, M. L. Arruzazabala, M. Noa, J. Illnait, J. C. Fernandez, V. Molina and A. Menendez (1999). ”Effects of policosanol and pravastatin on lipid profile, platelet aggregation and endothelemia in older hypercholesterolemic patients.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 19(4): 105-16.

8. Nikitin Iu, P., N. V. Slepchenko, N. A. Gratsianskii, A. S. Nechaev, A. L. Syrkin, M. G. Poltavskaia, A. V. Sumarokov and A. V. Revazov (2000). ”[Results of the multicenter controlled study of the hypolipidemic drug polycosanol in Russia].” Ter Arkh 72(12): 7-10.

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11. Arruzazabala, M. L., R. Mas, V. Molina, D. Carbajal, S. Mendoza, L. Fernandez and S. Valdes (1998). ”Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation in type II hypercholesterolemic patients.” Int J Tissue React 20(4): 119-24.

12. Arruzazabala, M. L., S. Valdes, R. Mas, D. Carbajal and L. Fernandez (1997). ”Comparative study of policosanol, aspirin and the combination therapy policosanol-aspirin on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers.” Pharmacol Res 36(4): 293-7.

13. Arruzazabala, M. L., S. Valdes, R. Mas, L. Fernandez and D. Carbajal (1996). ”Effect of policosanol successive dose increases on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers.” Pharmacol Res 34(5-6): 181-5.

14. Batista, J., R. Stusser, F. Saez and B. Perez (1996). ”Effect of policosanol on hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease in middle-aged patients. A 14-month pilot study.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 34(3): 134-7.

15. Canetti, M., M. Moreira, R. Mas, J. Illnait, L. Fernandez, J. Fernandez, E. Diaz and G. Castano (1995). ”A two-year study on the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in patients with type II hyperlipoproteinaemia.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 15(4): 159-65.

16. Carbajal, D., M. L. Arruzazabala, S. Valdes and R. Mas (1998). ”Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation and serum levels of arachidonic acid metabolites in healthy volunteers.” Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 58(1): 61-4.

17. Castano, G., R. Mas Ferreiro, L. Fernandez, R. Gamez, J. Illnait and C. Fernandez (2001). ”A long-term study of policosanol in the treatment of intermittent claudication.” Angiology 52(2): 115-25.

18. Castano, G., R. Mas, L. Fernandez, J. C. Fernandez, J. Illnait, L. E. Lopez and E. Alvarez (2000). ”Effects of policosanol on postmenopausal women with type II hypercholesterolemia.” Gynecol Endocrinol 14(3): 187-95.

19. Fernandez, S., et al. A pharmacological surveillance study of the tolerability of policosanol in the elderly population. Am J Geroatr Pharmacother. 2004 Dec, 2:219-229

20. Castano, G., R. Mas, L. Fernandez, J. Illnait, R. Gamez and E. Alvarez (2001). ”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 21(1): 43-57.

21. Castano, G., R. Mas, J. Roca, L. Fernandez, J. Illnait, J. C. Fernandez and E. Selman (1999). ”A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of policosanol in patients with intermittent claudication.” Angiology 50(2): 123-30.

22. Fontani, G., D. Maffei and L. Lodi (2000). ”Policosanol, reaction time and event-related potentials.” Neuropsychobiology 41(3): 158-65.

23. Gouni-Berthold, I. and H. K. Berthold (2002). ”Policosanol: clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent.” Am Heart J 143(2): 356-65.

24. Mas, R., G. Castano, J. Illnait, L. Fernandez, J. Fernandez, C. Aleman, V. Pontigas and M. Lescay (1999). ”Effects of policosanol in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia and additional coronary risk factors.” Clin Pharmacol Ther 65(4): 439-47.

25. Menendez, R., R. Mas, A. M. Amor, R. M. Gonzalez, J. C. Fernandez, I. Rodeiro, M. Zayas and S. Jimenez (2000). ”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 50(3): 255-62.

26. Mirkin, A., R. Mas, M. Martinto, R. Boccanera, A. Robertis, R. Poudes, A. Fuster, E. Lastreto, M. Yanez, G. Irico, B. McCook and A. Farre (2001). ”Efficacy and tolerability of policosanol in hypercholesterolemic postmenopausal women.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 21(1): 31-41.

27. Norris, F. H., E. H. Denys and R. J. Fallat (1986). ”Trial of octacosanol in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.” Neurology 36(9): 1263-4.

28. Pons, P., M. Rodriguez, C. Robaina, J. Illnait, R. Mas, L. Fernandez and J. C. Fernandez (1994). ”Effects of successive dose increases of policosanol on the lipid profile of patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia and tolerability to treatment.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 14(1): 27-33.

29. Stusser, R., J. Batista, R. Padron, F. Sosa and O. Pereztol (1998). ”Long-term therapy with policosanol improves treadmill exercise-ECG testing performance of coronary heart disease patients.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 36(9): 469-73.

30. Torres, O., A. J. Agramonte, J. Illnait, R. Mas Ferreiro, L. Fernandez and J. C. Fernandez (1995). ”Treatment of hypercholesterolemia in NIDDM with policosanol.” Diabetes Care 18(3): 393-7.

31. Valdes, S., M. L. Arruzazabala, L. Fernandez, R. Mas, D. Carbajal, C. Aleman and V. Molina (1996). ”Effect of policosanol on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers.” Int J Clin Pharmacol Res 16(2-3): 67-72.

32. Mas, R%., et al. Long-term effects of policosanol on obese patients with TypeII Hypercholesteerolemia. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004; 13(Suppl):S102

33. McCarty, MF. An ezetimbe-policosanol combination has the potential to be an OTC agent that could dramatically lower LDL cholesterol without side effects. Med Hypotheses. 2005, 64:636-645.

34. Chen, JT, et al. Meta-analysis of natural therapies for hyperlipidemia: plant sterols and stanols versus policosanol. Pharmacotherapy. 2005 Feb, 25: 171-183.