Policosanol is a natural extract of plant waxes usually produced from sugar cane. It is sold as a dietary supplement in more than 40 countries mainly because of its supposed lipid-lowering effects, increasing (good) HDL-cholesterol and lowering (bad) LDL-cholesterol.
Many of the studies that have found positive effects of policosanol and published in the scientific literature, have come from a single research group from Cuba. This research group is founded by a company that markets policosanol. And we have to remind that Cuba is a big producer of sugar cane, one of the sources of policosanol.
A new study carried out by a research group in Germany, suggests that use of the dietary supplement policosanol does not lower LDL-cholesterol levels any more than placebo. There weren’t any other effects either in total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol nor VLDL.
We see again how alternative therapies use a scientific approach to sell us a product with no beneficial effect on the health of its consumers.
The study, titled “Effect of policosanol on lipid levels among patients with hypercholesterolemia or combined hyperlipidemia: a randomized controlled trial“, has published in the may issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Metablogism 
Hmm, I posted, but it didnt get put up.
Did i do something wrong?
I don’t know if you did something wrong, but your previous post doesn’t appear.
Sorry.
Hi Sam
I’ve seen your previous post now, it went to the spam folder.
You say that this study is not conclusive because it only has 24 subjects, but then you say that policosanol worked for you… I think that a sample of 24 is more conclusive than the subjective opinion of one person.
Also, you say that it worked for you as part of your diet and exercise plan. And how do you know it was policosanol and not diet or the exercise, or both together?
Then you refer me to a web page with dubious and biased information with books about policosanol written by a mysterious doctor. I think you should double-check your sources of information.
Please keep visiting this site where you will always find information based on peer-reviewed studies.
Thanks.
I think you should take statin’s for a and you will change your tune very quickly, when your muscles ache like you have the flu all the time
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