Policosanol

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ATC_prefix = C10
ATC_suffix = AX08
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chemical_formula = CH₃-(CH₂)_n-CH₂OH n=24-34
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Policosanol (or polycosanol) is the generic term for a natural extract of plant waxes. It is used as a nutritional supplement to lower (bad) LDL cholesterol and increase (good) HDL cholesterol and to help prevent atherosclerosis. Independent clinical trials have failed to prove its efficacy.

Physical properties

Policosanol is a mixture of a few fatty alcohols derived from the waxes of such plants as sugar canecite journal |author=Marinangeli CP, Kassis AN, Jain D, Ebine N, Cunnane SC, Jones PJ |title=Comparison of composition and absorption of sugarcane policosanols |journal=Br. J. Nutr. |volume=97 |issue=2 |pages=381–8 |year=2007 |pmid=17298709 |doi=10.1017/S0007114507336763 |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S0007114507336763 |format=abstract] and yams, as well as beeswax. The most prevalent alcohol in policosanol is octacosanol,cite journal |author=Ohta Y, Ohashi K, Matsura T, Tokunaga K, Kitagawa A, Yamada K |title=Octacosanol attenuates disrupted hepatic reactive oxygen species metabolism associated with acute liver injury progression in rats intoxicated with carbon tetrachloride |journal=J Clin Biochem Nutr |volume=42 |issue=2 |pages=118–25 |year=2008 |pmid=18385828 |doi=10.3164/jcbn.2008017 |url=] followed by triacontanol.

There is a much lower concentration of several other fatty alcohols: behenyl alcohol, lignoceryl alcohol, ceryl alcohol, 1-heptacosanol, 1-nonacosanol, 1-dotriacontanol, and geddyl alcohol.

Policosanol is marketed by Cuba as a natural way to treat high cholesterol levels.

Modulation of HMG-CoA reductasecite journal |author=Singh DK, Li L, Porter TD |title=Policosanol inhibits cholesterol synthesis in hepatoma cells by activation of AMP-kinase |journal=J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. |volume=318 |issue=3 |pages=1020–6 |year=2006 |pmid=16714400 |doi=10.1124/jpet.106.107144 |url=http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=16714400] and bile acid absorption inhibitioncite journal |author=Ng CH, Leung KY, Huang Y, Chen ZY |title=Policosanol has no antioxidant activity in human low-density lipoprotein but increases excretion of bile acids in hamsters |journal=J. Agric. Food Chem. |volume=53 |issue=16 |pages=6289–93 |year=2005 |pmid=16076108 |doi=10.1021/jf051269a] have been proposed as mechanisms.

Studies

Published studies have come to conflicting conclusions regarding the efficacy of policosanol in lowering LDL (i.e., "bad cholesterol") or raising HDL (i.e., "good cholesterol").cite journal
author = Heiner K. Berthold, MD, PhD; Susanne Unverdorben, MD; Ralf Degenhardt, PhD; Michael Bulitta, Dipl-Stat; Ioanna Gouni-Berthold, MD
date = May 17, 2006
title = Effect of Policosanol on Lipid Levels Among Patients With Hypercholesterolemia or Combined Hyperlipidemia
journal = Journal of the American Medical Association
volume = 295
issue = 19
pages = 2262–2269
url = http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/295/19/2262
accessdate = 2006-10-03
pmid = 16705107
doi = 10.1001/jama.295.19.2262
format = abstract ] cite journal
author = Pons P, Rodriguez M, Robaina C, Illnait J, Mas R, Fernandez L, Fernandez JC.
year = 1994
title = Effects of successive dose increases of policosanol on the lipid profile of patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia and tolerability to treatment
journal = International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Research
volume = 14
issue = 1
pages = 27–33
pmid = 7927958
accessdate = ] cite journal |author=Chen JT, Wesley R, Shamburek RD, Pucino F, Csako G |title=Meta-analysis of natural therapies for hyperlipidemia: plant sterols and stanols versus policosanol |journal=Pharmacotherapy |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=171–83 |year=2005 |pmid=15767233 |doi=10.1592/phco.25.2.171.56942 |url=http://www.extenza-eps.com/doi/abs/10.1592/phco.25.2.171.56942 |format=abstract] Despite a number of studies funded by the Cuban government ( [http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v22/n12s/fig_tab/nbt1204supp-DC19_T1.html which also produces and markets the drug] ), no independent clinical trials have found any evidence of the efficacy of Policosanol.cite journal
author = Heiner K. Berthold, MD, PhD; Susanne Unverdorben, MD; Ralf Degenhardt, PhD; Michael Bulitta, Dipl-Stat; Ioanna Gouni-Berthold, MD
date = May 17, 2006
title = Effect of Policosanol on Lipid Levels Among Patients With Hypercholesterolemia or Combined Hyperlipidemia
journal = Journal of the American Medical Association
volume = 295
issue = 19
pages = 2262–2269
url = http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/295/19/2262
accessdate = 2006-10-03
pmid = 16705107
doi = 10.1001/jama.295.19.2262
format = abstract ]

Production

Policosanol (PPG) is produced, promoted and studied extensively in Cuba, where pharmaceutical research and sugar cane farms both exist in abundance. The supplement is used as a panacea by some Cubans.Fact|date=September 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/nmdrugprofiles/nutsupdrugs/pol_0207.shtml Policosanol] at PDRHealth.com
*US patent|6225354