Policosanol

Policosanol is a generic term for a mixture of long-chain alcohols extracted from various plant waxes. It was initially derived from sugar cane but it has also been isolated from diverse sources such as beeswax, cereal grains, grasses, leaves, fruits, nuts, and seeds. These alcohols, with carbon backbones ranging from 24 to 34 carbons, are known for their potential lipid-lowering effects. The initial studies conducted by Dalmer Laboratories in Cuba suggested that policosanol effectively reduces blood cholesterol levels, though replication efforts outside Cuba have yielded inconsistent results, leading to concerns about publication bias. Notably, a 2018 meta-analysis encompassing 22 studies and 1886 subjects indicated that policosanol could indeed improve dyslipidemia by raising HDL. Despite the disparities in research outcomes, policosanol is widely marketed as a lipid-lowering agent in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Canada. Safety appears to be a consistent finding across studies, with no reported side effects in human interventions, making it a generally well-tolerated supplement. However, the discrepancies in efficacy outcomes raise questions about its true cholesterol-lowering potential and underscore the need for further research to elucidate the substance's actual therapeutic value.