Abnormally high cholesterol levels are associated with plaque formation in, and hardening of, the arteries: atherosclerosis. Plaque prevents normal circulation of the blood to crucial organs such as the brain and heart. This is the principal cause of heart attacks and one of the leading causes of death in the majority of developed countries.

¤ The most commonly-prescribed drugs for reducing cholesterol are statins. These are very expensive (albeit reimbursed) and have significant side effects and numerous contraindications, as has been illustrated by recent news reports. Prolonged use can also cause a marked deficiency in co-enzyme Q10, a nutrient that is actually essential for cardiovascular health.
A good alternative to statins may well be policosanol, an extract of specific compounds found in sugar cane, produced and studied in Cuba since 1994. Policosanol is as effective as statins at lowering cholesterol. One study compared the effects of a daily

¤ 5 mg dose of policosanol to that of simvastatin, over an 8-week period. Policosanol reduced LDL cholesterol by 21.1%, simvastatin by 26%. Another comparative study showed that 20 mg policosanol reduced platelet aggregation as effectively as 100 mg aspirin. Policosanol decreases the risk of thrombosis, improves blood circulation to the brain and extremities when such circulation is reduced by plaque, improves levels of ‘good' HDL cholesterol and protects atherogenous LDL cholesterol from oxidation. Policosanol is also effective in intermittent claudication, a disabling consequence of atherosclerosis, reducing symptoms by half. It improves aerobic capacity, treadmill performance and may possibly improve the sex life of cardiovascular patients. Unlike drugs, is remarkably free of side-effects. There are many clinical studies on policosanol involving over 30,000 subjects. Policosanol's efficacy is dose-dependent. For some people, 5 mg a day will be sufficient. A dose of 10 mg a day will generally lower LDL cholesterol by 20-25% after 6 to 8 weeks, and a 20 mg dose will lower it by 25-30%. At the same time, ‘good' HDL cholesterol levels increase by 15 to 25%, considerably improving the HDL:LDL ratio.

Take 1 or 2 capsules, once or twice a day (ie 10-40 mg), modifying this to a maintenance dose after 8-12 weeks, according to the results obtained, in order to reduce your total cholesterol to the accepted optimal level of 1.8 to 2 g/l.