Heart Health High Cholesterol Treatment The Health Benefits of Policosanol This supplement is purported to help lower high cholesterol By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on July 18, 2019 facebook linkedin Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified in internal medicine, clinical cardiology, and clinical electrophysiology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Richard N. Fogoros, MD Updated on January 07, 2020 Print Policosanol, a dietary supplement, is a mixture of alcohols isolated from Cuban sugar cane wax. It contains about 60 percent octacosanol. PamelaViola / Getty Images Other names for policosanol include Octacosanol, 1-Octacosanol, N-Octacosanol, and Octacosyl Alcohol. Health Benefits Policosanol has been touted as a dietary supplement that can lower cholesterol. Although some studies suggest that policosanol may help to inhibit cholesterol formation in the liver, the majority of the studies on sugar cane policosanol have been conducted by a single research group in Cuba that's involved with the policosanol patent. An independent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2006 did not find any benefit of policosanol, even at high doses, on cholesterol levels. This finding casts some doubt on the reliability of the Cuban research on policosanol. More recently, an animal study published in 2016 found that rats who were fed a high-cholesterol diet and given policosanol for six weeks experienced a significant decrease in cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, LDL "bad" cholesterol, and the enzymatic activity in the liver that control cholesterol synthesis compared to rats who weren't given policosanol. Researchers concluded that policosanol has the potential to be developed into an effective dietary strategy for managing the boost in blood sugar and cholesterol that follows meals. Another study, this one a review of 22 studies involving nearly 1,900 people published in 2017, reported that sugar cane policosanol could significantly reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and increase HDL "good" cholesterol; no significant effects were observed on triglyceride and body weight. However, researchers concluded that because of the differences in the study designs, the better treatment effects observed in the studies from Cuba, and the inconsistent dose-response relationship, more clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of policosanol on high cholesterol. Possible Side Effects Although the reliability of the Cuban studies has been questioned, the side effects of policosanol reported in the trials have generally been mild and short-term. They've included indigestion, skin rash, headache, insomnia, and weight loss. Policosanol may increase the effect of medications that interfere with blood clotting or anti-platelet drugs, such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), or pentoxifylline (Trental), or supplements such as garlic, ginkgo, or high-dose vitamin E. Policosanol may increase the effects and side effects of levodopa, a medication used for Parkinson's disease. Also keep in mind that the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. Dosage and Preparation A typical dosage of policosanol used in studies has been five to 10 milligrams twice daily. Studies generally find that it can take up to two months to notice benefits. What to Look For The most-studied form of policosanol is derived from sugar cane and many products will tout that source. Other forms of policoanol, such as those derived from beeswax or wheat germ, haven't been well researched. Be aware that supplements haven't been tested for safety and due to the fact that dietary supplements are largely unregulated, the content of some products may differ from what is specified on the product label. A ConsumerLab.com analysis of six policosanol supplements found that all of the products contained their claimed amounts, which is in line with what's used clinically. This suggests you can be assured that what's promised on the label is what's found in the supplements. However, to be certain, when buying supplements look for products that have been certified by ConsumerLabs, The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International. These organizations don't guarantee a product is safe or effective, but they indicate that it's undergone testing for quality. A Word From Verywell Due to a lack of supporting evidence, it's too soon to recommend policosanol for the treatment of high cholesterol. If you're considering using it, talk with your primary care provider first. Self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to start a diet to better manage your cholesterol? Changing lifelong eating habits can be scary at first, but our guide will make it easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Swanson B, Keithley JK, Sha BE, et al. Policosanol for managing human immunodeficiency virus-related dyslipidemia in a medically underserved population: a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Altern Ther Health Med. 2011;17(2):30-5. Berthold HK, Unverdorben S, Degenhardt R, Bulitta M, Gouni-berthold I. Effect of policosanol on lipid levels among patients with hypercholesterolemia or combined hyperlipidemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;295(19):2262-9. doi:10.1001/jama.295.19.2262 Lee JY, Choi HY, Kang YR, et al. Effects of long-term supplementation of policosanol on blood cholesterol/glucose levels and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase activity in a rat model fed high cholesterol diets. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2016;25(3):899-904. doi:10.1007/s10068-016-0147-y Gong J, Qin X, Yuan F, et al. Efficacy and safety of sugarcane policosanol on dyslipidemia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018;62(1) doi:10.1002/mnfr.201700280 Castaño G, Más R, Fernández J, et al. Effects of policosanol on borderline to mildly elevated serum total cholesterol levels: a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, comparative study. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2003;64(8):522-37. doi:10.1016/j.curtheres.2003.09.002 ConsumerLab.com. Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements Review. Additional Reading Arruzazabala ML, Molina V, Mas R, Fernandez L, Carbajal D, Valdes S, Castano G. Antiplatelet Effects of Policosanol (20 and 40 Mg/Day) in Healthy Volunteers and Dyslipidaemic Patients. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology & Physiology. 2002. 29(10):891-7. Berthold HK, Unverdorben S, Degenhardt R et al. Effect of Policosanol on Lipid Levels Among Patients With Hypercholesterolemia or Combined Hyperlipidemia: a Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2006. 295:2262-9. Castaño G, Mas R, Fernandez L, Illnait J, Gamez R, Alvarez E. Effects of Policosanol 20 Versus 40 Mg/Day in the Treatment of Patients With Type II Hypercholesterolemia: a 6-Month Double-Blind Study. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Research. 2001. 21(1):43-57. Castaño G, Mas R, Fernandez L, Illnait J, Mendoza S, Gamez R, Fernandez J, Mesa M. 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 Under Experimental and Clinical Research. 2005. 31 Suppl:31-44. Castaño G, Mas R, Gamez R, Fernandez J, Illnait J, Fernandez L, Mendoza S, Mesa M, Gutierrez JA, Lopez E. Concomitant Use of Policosanol and Beta-Blockers in Older Patients. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Research. 2004. 24(2-3):65-77. Castaño G, Mas R, Gamez R, Fernandez L, Illnait J. Effects of Policosanol and Ticlopidine in Patients With Intermittent Claudication: a Double-Blinded Pilot Comparative Study. Angiology. 2004. 55(4):361-71. ConsumerLab.com. Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements Review. Gong Jing, et al. Efficacy and safety of sugarcane policosanol on dyslipidemia: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. Volume 62, Issue 1. Lee Jung-Yun, et al. Effects of long-term supplementation of policosanol on blood cholesterol/glucose levels and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase activity in a rat model fed high cholesterol diets. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2016; 25(3): 899–904. Lin Y, Rudrum M, van der Wielen RP, Trautwein EA, McNeill G, Sierksma A, Meijer GW. Wheat Germ Policosanol Failed to Lower Plasma Cholesterol in Subjects With Normal to Mildly Elevated Cholesterol Concentrations. Metabolism. 2004. 53(10):1309-14.