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PolicosanolOther positive health effects of the compound in studies have been inhibition of lipid peroxidation as well as support for macrophage activity. Although often associated with cholesterol management, there is currently no strong evidence to support the compound's use for that purpose. There has been one study that would suggest this effectiveness, done at the National Center for Scientific Research, in Havana, Cuba, with a daily intake of 20 mg of policosanol. After 24 weeks, policosanol lowered LDL-cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) by 27 percent and total cholesterol by 15 percent while HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) increased by 17 percent. However, a 2006 German study did NOT find policosanol to reduce cholesterol levels. Thus, more research is needed to validate any cholesterol management claims of the compound. In addition to policosanol, other supplements that have been studied in terms of healthy cholesterol levels include niacin, garlic, guggul, and psyllium. Policosanol - StudiesLack of cholesterol-lowering efficacy of Cuban sugar cane policosanol in hypercholesterolemic persons. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 84, No. 5, 1003-1008, November 2006. Long-term effects of policosanol on obese patients with Type II Hypercholesterolemia. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S102. Effects of concurrent therapy with policosanol and omega-3 fatty acids on lipid profile and platelet aggregation in rabbits. Drugs R D. 2005;6(1):11-9. Wheat germ policosanol failed to lower plasma cholesterol in subjects with normal to mildly elevated cholesterol concentrations. Metabolism. 2004 Oct;53(10):1309-14. Long- term effects of policosanol on older patients with Type 2 diabetes. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2004;13(Suppl):S101. Effects of policosanol and ticlopidine in patients with intermittent claudication: a double-blinded pilot comparative study. Angiology. 2004 Jul-Aug;55(4):361-71. Meta-analysis of natural therapies for hyperlipidemia: plant sterols and stanols versus policosanol. Pharmacotherapy. 2005 Feb;25(2):171-83. Concomitant use of policosanol and beta-blockers in older patients. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2004;24(2-3):65-77. Role of policosanols in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Nutr Rev. 2003 Nov;61(11):376-83. Stability studies of tablets containing 5 mg of policosanol. Boll Chim Farm. 2003 Sep;142(7):277-84. Effects of policosanol and lovastatin on lipid profile and lipid peroxidation in patients with dyslipidemia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Castano G,. Medical Surgical Research Center, Havana City, Cuba. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 2002;22(3-4):89-99. A 6-Month Study on the Toxicity of High Doses of Policosanol Orally Administered to Sprague-Dawley Rats. J Med Food. 2001 Summer;4(2):57-65. Cholesterol-lowering action of policosanol compares well to that of pravastatin and lovastatin. Cardiovasc J S Afr. 2003 May-Jun;14(3):161. Policosanol prevents bone loss in ovariectomized rats. Drugs Exp Clin Res. 2004;30(3):117-23. Effect of policosanol on isoprenaline-induced myocardial necrosis in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol. 1994 Apr;46(4):282-5.
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