Nutritional supplement

Composition
One tablet contains 10 mg of octacosanol.

Recommendations for use:
• to decrease the cholesterol concentration in blood and to improve bowel function

Action of active substances
Octacosanol
Octacosanol is a bioactive substance that can be found most in sugarcanes, wheat germ and peel of the citrus fruits. Octacosanol reduces cholesterol concentration in blood as much effective as cholesterol lowering medicines (statins) and does not cause side effect (hepatic dysfunction and muscle atrophy). Octacosanol decreases low density (bad) cholesterol concentration, effectively increases high density (good) cholesterol concentration, inhibits the oxidation of the low density lipids, decreases the proliferation of the blood vessels endothelium and reduces the formation of the clot. Octacosanol decreases the damage to the vessels and lowers the complication rate for patients with artery diseases.

Scientific researches demonstrating the efficiency
* 53 patients were studied comparing the effects of octacosanol and statins (medicines that lower cholesterol level). The cholesterol level lowering effects of octacosanol and pravastatin were compared. Octacosanol decreased total cholesterol level by 14 percent, pravastatin – 12 percent. Low density cholesterol level was decreased 20 percent in octacosanol group and 15 percent in pravastatin group.
* Double blind study was performed with patients which where divided in two groups: octacosanol and placebo. 10 mg octacosanol was administered for the patients for 12 weeks. The effect of octacosanol to change the concentration of low density (bad) and high density (good) cholesterol was analyzed. Conclusion: bad cholesterol decreased 25 percent and good cholesterol increased 28 percent in octacosanol group; there were no changes in placebo group.
* 244 postmenopausal women who had increased cholesterol level in blood received 10 mg of octacosanol for 12 weeks. It was noticed that octacosanol decreased bad cholesterol level 25 percent, total cholesterol level – 17 percent (p<0.05), and increased good cholesterol level by 30 percent (p<0.05)

Literature:
1. Janikula M. Policosanol: a new treatment for cardiovascular disease? Alt Med Rev 7(3):203-217, 2002.
2. Bratman S, Girman A. Mosby's Handbook of Herbs and Supplements and Their Therapeutic Uses. Philadelphia: Mosby, 2003, p. 812.
3. Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez J, et al. Effects of policosanol on older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia. Drugs R D 3(3):159-172, 2002.
4. Castano G, Mas R, Fernandez L. Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of policosanol with atorvastatin in elderly patients with type II hypercholesterolaemia. Drugs Aging 20(2):153-163, 2003.
5. Gouni-Berthold I, Berthold HK. Policosanol: Clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent. Am Heart J 143(2):356-365, 2002.