What Are the Health Benefits of Policosanol?
Policosanol is a nutritional supplement that is made up of a mixture of alcohols. The main ingredient of policosanol is octacosanol but it also includes hexacosanol, triacontanol and others. These ingredients are taken from waxes of plants such as sugar cane, beeswax and yams. Some claim that policosanol lowers cholesterol, but consult a doctor before using it.
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Studies
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There have been two significant studies done on policosanol, according to the policosanol.net website. The first study was done on 22 people over a period of 8 weeks and the results were that the patients saw a 25 percent reduction of LDL cholesterol and 21 percent increase in HDL cholesterol. The second study was done on 437 people over a period of twelve weeks and the result was a 25 percent reduction in LDL cholesterol and a 28 percent increase in HDL cholesterol.
LDL
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A decrease in LDL cholesterol is beneficial because LDL is known as bad cholesterol. When LDL cholesterol builds up, it causes a thick plaque to form on the walls of the heart and brain. The clogging can make the arteries thinner and less flexible and a clot can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
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HDL
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An increase in HDL cholesterol is beneficial because HDL is considered to be good cholesterol. Doctors believe that the job of the HDL is to move the cholesterol away from areas of the body that can form clogging or a clot and instead moves the cholesterol to the liver so the cholesterol can be passed.
Menopause
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Policosanol can be especially beneficial for women who have gone through menopause. Estrogen aids the body against cardiovascular diseases, but when a woman goes through menopause, the levels of estrogen lower and women become more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. Policosanol can be helpful in controlling the levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol to aid against heart disease.
Type II Diabetes
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Diabetes is another condition that can lead to high amounts of cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases. Policosanol can be beneficial in correcting their levels of LDL and HDL cholesterol. It is also important to note that policosanol will not lead to a change in a diabetes patient's blood sugar level.
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