FAQ’s
1. Why Cholesterol can be good or bad?
One of the prime causes of Coronary
Heart Disease (CHD), is elevated cholesterol
content in the blood. Since Cholesterol
is a lipid (fat-soluble molecules) and does
not dissolve in blood (which is mostly water),
it is incorporated into lipoproteins, which
dissolve in blood and are transported throughout
the body from its source in the liver. Therefore
all the cholesterol in the bloodstream is
a component of one kind of lipoprotein or
another.
Lipoproteins - HDL and LDL : Lipoproteins
are molecular aggregates of lipids and protein
and contain cholesterol, triglycerides (fats)
and protein. Protein is denser than cholesterol
and fats, so the higher the protein content
of the lipoprotein, the greater the density
of the lipoprotein. Thus High Density Lipoproteins
(HDLs) have more protein and less cholesterol
and Low Density Lipoproteins (LDLs) have
less protein and more cholesterol.
Bad cholesterol - LDL : Though the high
cholesterol content in LDLs gives them the
capability to carry out the designated (and
highly beneficial role) of donating this
molecule to needy cells, LDLs also carry
the danger of being oxidized by free radicals
in the blood and may donate cholesterol
elsewhere. Cholesterol donated to the inner
walls of blood vessels could lead to buildup
of cholesterol-laden arterial plaque or
atherosclerosis leading to CHD.
Good cholesterol - HDL : HDLs low cholesterol
content allows them to absorb small amounts
of cholesterol from undesirable locations
(such as the walls of blood vessels) and
transport the cholesterol back to the liver
for storage or for ultimate excretion via
the bile, thus decreasing the damage done
by LDLs. For cardiovascular health it is
imperative to have a healthy (low) LDL to
HDL ratio, ideally below 3.5, i.e. by reducing
LDL levels and increasing HDL levels.
2. How
does Policosanol affect cholesterol?
Lipid-lowering agents, such as policosanol,
appear to normalize cholesterol as well
or better than cholesterol lowering drugs,
without side effects and their efficacy
and safety have been proven in numerous
clinical trials. Policosanol appears to reduce the proliferation of cells in arteries.
Healthy arteries are lined with a smooth
layer of cells that allow the blood to
pass through with no resistance. Diseased
arteries become thick and overgrown with
cells and blood flow slows down or is
blocked completely. Policosanol inhibits formation of clots.
3. How
you can save your life by lowering cholesterol?
Research indicates that elevated LDL levels
are a major cause of coronary heart disease
(CHD) and that cholesterol-lowering therapy
greatly reduces the risk of CHD. Changes
in lifestyle (such as decreasing dietary
fat and cholesterol intake, increasing
physical activity, not smoking, and losing
weight if you are obese) are beneficial
but are difficult for many people to implement
and maintain. A viable alternative for
such people is to use lipid-lowering agents
such as policosanol. Policosanol can significantly
reduce blood cholesterol levels by interfering
with cholesterol synthesis in the liver.
Statistically, this means a corresponding
decrease in the risk of CHD.
Studies
A double blind, placebo-controlled study
of 22 patients with hypercholesterolemia
(excessive amounts of cholesterol) demonstrated
the benefits of Policosanol. After eight
weeks, the patients who had been given
Policosanol had a marked reduction in
total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
A similar double blind, placebo-controlled
study on 69 patients also showed promising
results. Those patients taking 10mg of
policosanol daily for two years had an
18% reduction in total cholesterol and
a 25% reduction in LDL cholesterol. The
doctors involved in the study were also
encouraged to report that HDL cholesterol
levels had risen by 21%.
A larger patient group of 437 patients
in a double-blind, placebo-controlled
study received either Policosanol or a
placebo once a day for twelve weeks. The
patients who had been given Policosanol
showed a 25% reduction in LDL cholesterol,
a 17% reduction in total cholesterol,
and a 28% increase in HDL cholesterol.
The placebo group showed no reduction
in total cholesterol. Policosanol seems
to be effective at lowering cholesterol
on both men and women and in all age groups.
A study on 179 older aged people resulted
in a reduction in total cholesterol of
13% and a drop of 16% in LDL cholesterol.
Also on a positive note there was a 14%
increase in HDL cholesterol and a 28%
reduction in the total cholesterol to
HDL ratio.
4.
How does Policosanol affect your heart?
Policosanol reduces the proliferation
of cells in the arteries. Healthy arteries
are lined with a smooth layer of cells
that allow the blood to pass through with
no resistance. Diseased arteries become
thick and overgrown with cells. As the
artery narrows, blood flow slows down
or is blocked completely.
Studies
Policosanol was tested in clinical studies
for its ability to stop the proliferation
of these cells. Researchers concluded
that "policosanol's ability to stop
cell overgrowth" is in agreement
with the anti-proliferative effects reported
for other lipid-lowering drugs, such as
most of the statins. Policosanol compares
favorably to statin drugs. LDL and total
cholesterol lowering is similar, with
policosanol performing better on elevating
HDL. Researchers found that 10 mg of Policosanol
reduced LDL 24% compared with 22% for
lovastatin (Mevacor) at 20 mg, and 15%
for simvastatin (Zocor) at 10 mg.
Policosanol inhibits formation of
clots and may work well in tandem with
aspirin in this respect. In a comparison
between the two, aspirin was found to
be better at reducing one type of platelet
aggregation (clumping together of blood
cells) while policosanol was better at
inhibiting another type. Together they
worked better than each by itself. A related
effect is significant reductions in thromboxane
(a blood vessel-constricting eicosanoid
produced by platelets) levels in humans
after two weeks of policosanol.
5. How does Policosanol affect Postmenopausal
Women and Heart Disease?
Female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone
appear to provide a protective effect
against cardiovascular disease. When women
go through menopause, hormone levels begin
drop. In these conditions cholesterol
levels could increase and make them susceptible
to cardiovascular disease.
Studies
The efficacy of Policosanol was studied
on a group of 224 postmenopausal women
with elevated cholesterol. After the 18
week course of the randomized, double
blind, placebo-controlled study, doctors
noted that the group receiving policosanol
experienced a 17% reduction in total cholesterol,
a 25% reduction in LDL cholesterol, and
a significant 29% rise in HDL cholesterol.
Four serious cardiac events occurred in
the placebo group compared to none in
the policosanol group.
6.
. How does Policosanol affect Diabetes?
Although Policosanol may not have any
direct impact on diabetes, clinical studies
on diabetics have indicated some implications
- patients with Type II or non-insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are predisposed
to elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular
disease.
Studies
Fifty-three diabetic patients with high
cholesterol were studied in a randomized,
double blind study of Policosanol. After
12 weeks, total cholesterol was lowered
14%, LDL cholesterol by 20% and HDL cholesterol
increased by 7.5% in the group receiving
policosanol. Other studies had demonstrated
similar positive results with type II
diabetic patients. The researchers noted
that there is no viable carbohydrate value
to policosanol, and thus no elevation
in blood sugar. This could be an important
consideration for patients who have diabetes.
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