Policosanol is a natural mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols, extracted from purified sugar cane wax (Saccharum offi cinarum L.) by hydrolytic cleavage and subsequent purification. The major components of the mixture are octacosanol, triacontanol, and hexacosanol, with tetracosanol, heptacosanol, nonacosanol, dotriacontanol, and tetratriacontanol making up the lesser constituents. Numerous well-designed clinical studies have shown highly beneficial effects of policosanol on serum lipid metabolism, although these results have not been corroborated in all studies. Studies suggest that the effective dose is 10 mg to 40 mg daily of policosanol.
