What
is Policosanol?
Policosanol is a mixture of
natural substances extracted
from the waxy coating of sugarcane
stems and leaves.
What
are bad and good cholesterols?
In our bloodstream, cholesterol
exists in two forms. One is
"bad" (LDL cholesterol),
in the sense that it can lead
to the formation of atherosclerotic
plaque in our arteries, especially
when it becomes oxidised by
free radicals. The other is
"good" (HDL cholesterol),
in the sense that it does
not do this but is instead
transported to the liver for
metabolism or excretion.
What is the effect of Policosanol
on cholesterol?
More than 60 clinical trials
confirmed that Policosanol
is effective in lowering cholesterol.
It lowers both total cholesterol
and LDL cholesterol.
At the same time, Policosanol
increases the level of good
type of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol.
Some clinical trials have
been conducted to compare
the efficacy of Policosanol
with that of statin drugs
(the widely used chemical
drugs for lowering cholesterol)
and showed very similar results.
A study recently published
in the American Heart Journal
concluded that "Policosanol
is a very promising phytochemical
alternative to classic lipid-lowering
agents such as the statins."
How safe is Policosanol?
To date, the efficacy and
safety of Policosanol have
been documented in clinical
trials involving over 36,000
subjects. Long-term administration
of Policosanol has been found
free from serious side effects.
The most common side effect
is weight loss, which occurs
in about 1.8% of the subjects.
The currently recommended
amount of Policosanol to begin
with is 5 mg/day, taken in
the evening. This can be increased
to 10 mg/day depending on
the response.
Packaging:
blister packing, 30 tablets
per pack.
Recommended
dosage : 5 mg dosage,
1 to 2 tablets daily in the
evening. 10 mg dosage, 1 tablet
daily in the evening or as
directed by your doctor.
Postage
in Australia
AU $5.95
International Postage
AU $24.95
