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evidence · mechanism · dose
Supplements/Compound

Policosanol

Long-chain alcohols from sugarcane wax marketed for cholesterol; Cuban studies positive but unreplicated.

Cardiovascular Health

Overview

Long-chain alcohols from sugarcane wax marketed for cholesterol; Cuban studies positive but unreplicated.

Natural sources
  • Sugarcane wax
  • Beeswax
Common forms
  • Policosanol 10–20 mg

Forms & variants of Policosanol

Different chemical forms of Policosanol behave differently. Browse each form's mechanism, bioavailability, and best-use context.

Cuban Cuban sugar cane
Cuban Policosanol

Sugar-cane–derived lipid-lowering long-chain alcohols.

Mechanism of action

Possibly modulates LDL receptor activity (debated).

Pathways
  • · LDL receptor (debated)

Effects on the body

Decreases
LDL cholesterol (Cuban studies only)

Organ system effects

Cardiovascular

Inconclusive outside Cuban studies.

Evidence-based benefits

Inconsistent LDL reduction

Limited evidence

Potential side effects

Common
    Rare
      Serious

        Drug interactions

        No notable interactions reported.

        Safety & non-supplemental interactions

        Educational summary — always confirm with your clinician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or combining with prescription therapy.

        Avoid / monitor with these medications
        • ·Warfarin and antiplatelets (additive bleeding)

        Supplement interactions

        Pairs well with

        None listed.

        Avoid combining with

        No specific avoidances listed.

        Dosing & bioavailability

        Typical dose
        10–20 mg/d

        Where to buy

        Affiliate-style search links to reputable retailers. We don't endorse specific brands — verify third-party testing (USP, NSF, Informed Sport) before purchase.

        Compound
        Policosanol
        Amazon
        Wide selection · fast shipping
        Compound
        Policosanol
        iHerb
        Global delivery · curated brands
        Compound
        Policosanol
        Thorne
        Practitioner-grade · NSF tested

        Scientific evidence (8)

        Meta-analysisNutr Rev · 2010

        Policosanol for hypercholesterolemia: a meta-analysis

        Marinangeli CP, et al.

        Meta-analysis of policosanol trials.

        Key findings

        Cuban trials show LDL reduction; independent trials show minimal effect.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Policosanol — Inconsistent LDL reduction

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Policosanol Inconsistent LDL reduction" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Policosanol and "Inconsistent LDL reduction". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Policosanol — randomized controlled trial

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Policosanol randomized controlled trial" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Policosanol and "randomized controlled trial". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Policosanol — meta-analysis

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Policosanol meta-analysis" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Policosanol and "meta-analysis". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Policosanol — pharmacokinetics

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Policosanol pharmacokinetics" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Policosanol and "pharmacokinetics". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Policosanol — safety adverse events

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Policosanol safety adverse events" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Policosanol and "safety adverse events". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewPubMed (NLM) · 1970

        PubMed: Policosanol — dose response

        Live PubMed search

        Live results for "Policosanol dose response" across the PubMed/MEDLINE peer-reviewed index.

        Key findings

        Opens current human and preclinical literature matching Policosanol and "dose response". Filter by RCT, meta-analysis, or year on the results page.

        Open study
        Systematic reviewGoogle Scholar · 1970

        Google Scholar: Policosanol — clinical evidence

        Live Scholar search

        Cross-database citation index for Policosanol as it relates to "clinical evidence".

        Key findings

        Includes preprints, theses, and journal articles. Useful for tracking citation counts and follow-on work.

        Open study
        Educational use only. This profile is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic condition.