Andreas Moritz
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 Even the researchers were shocked when they tested policosanol, a safe, natural substance found in citrus peels. In one study, 244 women with high cholesterol received either a placebo or policosanol. Researchers saw the bad cholesterol of the policosanol group plunge by 25 percent. Total cholesterol fell 17 percent. And their ratio of total to good cholesterol (the most important risk factor) improved by a whopping 27.2 percent! Another study compared policosanol against a popular statin drug. Those given policosanol lowered their bad cholesterol by an average of 19.3 percent, versus just 15. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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 One recent metaanalysis of natural interventions for abnormal and elevared lipids concluded that policosanol is more effective than plant sterols.334
However, evidence to the benefits of policosanol is conflicting. In May of 2006, a randomized controlled trial srudied four different doses of policosanol compared to each other and a placebo group.335 None of rhe treatment groups had a decrease of LDL cholesterol of more than 10 percent, and no statistically significant difference occurred between policosanol and placebo. |
Andreas Moritz
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| Researchers saw the bad cholesterol of the policosanol group plunge by 25 percent. Total cholesterol fell 17 percent. And their ratio of total to good cholesterol (the most important risk factor) improved by a whopping 27.2 percent! Another study compared policosanol against a popular statin drug. Those given policosanol lowered their bad cholesterol by an average of 19.3 percent, versus just 15.6 percent for the statin subjects. Most importantly, policosanol improved the most crucial ratio, total cholesterol to good cholesterol, by 24.4 percent, while the statin drug only improved it by 15. |
| In one study, 244 women with high cholesterol received either a placebo or policosanol. Researchers saw the bad cholesterol of the policosanol group plunge by 25 percent. Total cholesterol fell 17 percent. And their ratio of total to good cholesterol (the most important risk factor) improved by a whopping 27.2 percent! Another study compared policosanol against a popular statin drug. Those given policosanol lowered their bad cholesterol by an average of 19.3 percent, versus just 15.6 percent for the statin subjects. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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| However, evidence to the benefits of policosanol is conflicting. In May of 2006, a randomized controlled trial srudied four different doses of policosanol compared to each other and a placebo group.335 None of rhe treatment groups had a decrease of LDL cholesterol of more than 10 percent, and no statistically significant difference occurred between policosanol and placebo. It may be that combining policosanol with other lipid-lowering natural agents, and especially fish oils, will offer the most effect. |
| Animal and human studies that combined 5 or 10 mg policosanol with 1 gram omega-3 fatty acids showed a decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL and an increase in HDL greater than when fish oils alone were used.336' 337 Despite this con-
Policosanol
10-80 mg per day flicting evidence, I still recommend policosanol in my clinical practice due to the results I witness.
Red Yeast Rice. Red yeast rice is made from cooked white rice fermented by the yeast Monascus purpureus, which is then sterilized and dried. |
Andreas Moritz
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| Another study compared policosanol against a popular statin drug. Those given policosanol lowered their bad cholesterol by an average of 19.3 percent, versus just 15.6 percent for the statin subjects. Most importantly, policosanol improved the most crucial ratio, total cholesterol to good cholesterol, by 24.4 percent, while the statin drug only improved it by 15.9 percent. Just chewing on organic lemon rind once daily may be enough to balance cholesterol.
Nuts pack a powerful nutritional punch. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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| Despite this con-
Policosanol
10-80 mg per day flicting evidence, I still recommend policosanol in my clinical practice due to the results I witness.
Red Yeast Rice. Red yeast rice is made from cooked white rice fermented by the yeast Monascus purpureus, which is then sterilized and dried. Red yeast rice has been used as a dietary staple, to make rice wine, and as a food preservative and is a cholesterol-lowering agent. The main active ingredient in red yeast rice is mona-colin K (lovastatin),338 which inhibits the enzyme that initiates the synthesis of cholesterol. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| In these studies, policosanol in dosages ranging from 5 to 20 milligrams per day has demonstrated significant improvements in lowering cholesterol levels on a par with these drugs, typically 20 to 30 percent.
In addition to its effects on cholesterol levels, policosanol exerts additional positive effects in the battle against atherosclerosis. It prevents excessive platelet aggregation without affecting coagulation and exerts good antioxidant effects in preventing against LDL oxidation. |
Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D.
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 Red Yeast Rice
One of the first major policosanol products distributed in the United States was Cholestin, made by a company called Pharmanex. But before it contained policosanol, Cholestin contained red yeast rice. It's a tale of woe and intrigue—a story of Big Pharma and the FDA ganging up on a small herbal company.
Pharmanex discovered that Chinese researchers had found that red yeast rice could lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Nobody else was paying much attention to this kind of foreign research, so the company decided to do its own clinical trials. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Policosanol has exceptional clinical documentation demonstrating its efficacy, safety, and tolerability in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The clinical studies have included comparative studies versus conventional cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, gemfibrozil, and probucol. In these studies, policosanol in dosages ranging from 5 to 20 milligrams per day has demonstrated significant improvements in lowering cholesterol levels on a par with these drugs, typically 20 to 30 percent. |
Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D.
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| Downside: Effectiveness and quality control of US policosanol products have not been established. There could be an increased risk of bleeding when policosanol is combined with an anticoagulant like warfarin (Coumadin).
Side effects: Modest weight loss, digestive tract upset, headache, insomnia, and skin rash. Generally considered quite safe and very well tolerated.
Cost: US products of unproven efficacy and quality range from $5 to $20 for a month's supply. daily, total cholesterol dropped by 15.3 percent, LDL cholesterol came down by 24.4 percent, triglycerides were reduced by 14. |
by Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Octacosanol is also one of the key components of policosanol, a mixture of fatty substances isolated and purified from the wax of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). policosanol has exceptional clinical documentation demonstrating its efficacy, safety, and tolerability in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The clinical studies have included comparative studies versus conventional cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, gemfibrozil, and probucol. |
| In addition to its effects on cholesterol levels, policosanol exerts additional positive effects in the battle against atherosclerosis. It prevents excessive platelet aggregation without affecting coagulation and exerts good antioxidant effects in preventing against LDL oxidation. Better news still is that these benefits of policosanol may be present in other waxy substances that coat most fruits and vegetables. |
James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 Study
A review published in the American Heart journal found that policosanol lowered total cholesterol by 1 7 to 21 percent, as well as raised the good HDL cholesterol by 8 to 15 percent. It also reported that policosanol was found to be equally as effective in lowering total or LDL cholesterol as the statin drugs Simvastatin or Pravastatin.
Antioxidant formula contains a wide spectrum of antioxidants that prevent the oxidative damage of cholesterol. Take as directed on the container.
Ginkgo biloba improves blood flow, has antioxidant benefits, and has blood-thinning properties. |
Andreas Moritz
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| Most importantly, policosanol improved the most crucial ratio, total cholesterol to good cholesterol, by 24.4 percent, while the statin drug only improved it by 15.9 percent. Just chewing on organic lemon rind once daily may be enough to balance cholesterol.
Nuts pack a powerful nutritional punch. They contain monounsaturated fats which help lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and may raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol when substituted for saturated fats in the diet. |
Marshall Editions
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 Red rich yeast has been shown to be effective in decreasing cholesterol. policosanol has also been shown to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), as well as increase good cholesterol (HDL); take 5-10 mg twice a day. Take 2-3 capsules of garlic a day to lower cholesterol, and perhaps also lower blood pressure. Ginger has also been shown, in some studies, to lower cholesterol by binding to it and inhibiting its absorption. Take 8-10 g of a ginger capsule a day in divided doses and drink ginger tea throughout the day. Do not take more than 1 g of ginger if you are pregnant. |
Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA
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| Citrus peels, wheat germ, and caviar are other rich sources of policosanol.
Policosanol has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol levels by up to 20 percent, and it raises HDL by an average of 10 percent—without the side effects caused by statins. As a matter of fact, in a study of nearly 28,000 people who used policosanol for two to four years, less than half of 1 percent of the subjects experienced notable adverse effects from their daily dose. |
| The women given policosanol were then given 10 mg for 12 more weeks. By the end of the study, the policosanol users had some amazing changes in their cholesterol levels: Their LDL fell by 25.2 percent, their total cholesterol fell by 16.7 percent, and their ratio of total cholesterol to HDL fell by 27.2 percent!
Another study—this one from the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology—compared the effects of policosanol to those of pravastatin, a commonly used statin drug, in elderly patients with high cholesterol and high risk of heart attack. |
| Unlike statins, policosanol causes no decrease in libido, and there's a hint of evidence from an animal study that it may actually increase libido slightly! policosanol also inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, the free radical attack that makes LDL so much more dangerous to blood vessel health. In animal studies, it decreased the uncontrolled inflammation and cell growth known to lead to artery disease. policosanol also helps to thin the blood, decreasing the chances of a clot forming to plug up an artery and cause a heart attack or stroke. |
James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| It also reported that policosanol was found to be equally as effective in lowering total or LDL cholesterol as the statin drugs Simvastatin or Pravastatin.
Antioxidant formula contains a wide spectrum of antioxidants that prevent the oxidative damage of cholesterol. Take as directed on the container.
Ginkgo biloba improves blood flow, has antioxidant benefits, and has blood-thinning properties. Select an extract made with 24 percent ginkgo flavone glycosides and take 80 to 120 mg twice a day.
L-carnitine is a nutrient that lowers triglyceride levels and improves heart contraction. |
Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D.
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| Experiment with policosanol if you want to lower your cholesterol without a prescription. Data on effectiveness are equivocal.
• Consider red yeast rice if your physician is unhappy about your cholesterol levels. Make sure the doctor monitors your liver enzymes and overall progress. Add coenzyme Q10 to reduce the risk of muscle problems.
• If your doctor prescribes a statin-type drug, ask for the lowest possible dose to start and monitor your progress. At the first sign of muscle pain or weakness, notify your physician immediately. Coenzyme Q10 may reduce the risk of some side effects. |
Jonny Bowden, M.A., C.N.S.
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 They were the first to bring a number of now familiar supplements—such as policosanol for lowering cholesterol and CLA for its fat- and cancer-lighting properties—to the marketplace. Their supplement line is as good as it gets—superbly made, reliable, well researched, and with the best ingredients: www.lef.org
I recommend these products highly and use them in my practice all the time. You can buy these products—along with those from other first-rate manufacturers like Allergy Research, Pure Encapsulations, Phytopharmica, and Douglas Labs— from direct links on my site, www.JonnyBowden.com. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 Policosanol, a product made from sugar cane wax, appears to have some effect in slowing down the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver as well as increasing the liver's absorption of LDL and increasing levels of HDL. One of its actions is to inhibit the oxidation of LDL (oxidized LDL promotes the destruction of the blood vessels). |
Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D.
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| There could be an increased risk of bleeding when policosanol is combined with an anticoagulant like warfarin (Coumadin).
Side effects: Modest weight loss, digestive tract upset, headache, insomnia, and skin rash. Generally considered quite safe and very well tolerated.
Cost: US products of unproven efficacy and quality range from $5 to $20 for a month's supply. daily, total cholesterol dropped by 15.3 percent, LDL cholesterol came down by 24.4 percent, triglycerides were reduced by 14.7 percent, and good HDL cholesterol went up by 15.5 percent.530 Those are really terrific numbers. |
Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA
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| In this study, policosanol also stood out for its ability to inhibit the tendency of blood to clot together and clog blood vessels.
Policosanol causes none of the adverse effects statins can cause. It appears to work by slowing the production of cholesterol in the liver while increasing the liver's ability to reabsorb LDL. The most frequently cited side effect? Weight loss— not exactly an undesirable side effect for most people at risk of developing heart disease. |
| In animal studies, it decreased the uncontrolled inflammation and cell growth known to lead to artery disease. policosanol also helps to thin the blood, decreasing the chances of a clot forming to plug up an artery and cause a heart attack or stroke.
Levels of a specific type of proinflammatory biochemical called thromboxane can rise too high as a direct result of a poor, refined-food diet, and can cause artery walls to clamp down tight, decreasing blood and oxygen flow to the heart and elsewhere. Some studies have shown a decrease in levels of this type of thromboxane with policosanol. |
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