As a supplement used solely for the purpose of cholesterol reduction one would take 5-10 mg twice per day. Tim Ferriss found 23mg prior to bedtime to be an optimal dose for weight loss with no additional benefit at higher doses. I cannot comment on it’s efficacy as a weight loss supplement based on my literary research but it may be worth a try.

I would personally have my cholesterol levels checked before use and six months later to see if there was any beneficial change. If so you could consider continuing this supplement for 1-2 years depending on the success of your diet and exercise regimen.

Policosanol seems to be safe when used in doses of 10-80 mg/day for up to 2 years*

Policosanol: is referenced two times in the 4 Hour Body

1. The Four Horsemen of Fat-Loss: The “P” in PAGG (20-25 mg prior to bed)
2. Geek to Freak Protocol (23 mg prior to bed)

You can see the full dosing regimens as recommended in the Four Hour Body HERE.

 

POLICOSANOL

Also Known As: 

32-C, Dotriacontanol, Heptacosanol, Hexacosanol, Nonacosanol, Octacosanol,Tetracosanol, Tetratriacontanol, Triacontanol.

Scientific Name:

Policosanol.

People Use This For:

Orally, policosanol is used for hyperlipidemia, intermittent claudication, decreasing myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary heart disease, and as an anti-plaque agent.

Safety:

POSSIBLY SAFE …when used orally and appropriately. *Policosanol seems to be safe when used in doses of 10-80 mg/day for up to 2 years

PREGNANCY AND LACTATION: Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Effectiveness:

INSUFFICIENT RELIABLE EVIDENCE to RATE

Familial hypercholesterolemia

Preliminary evidence suggests that taking a specific form of policosanol (Lesstanol Octa-60, Garuda International) 20 mg/day for 12 weeks does not significantly decrease total of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Hypercholesterolemia

Research on policosanol for hypercholesterolemia is inconsistent and contradictory. Several studies originating in Cuba suggest that taking policosanol orally 10-20 mg/day decreases total cholesterol by 9% to 29%, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 11% to 42%, and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 7% to 34%. Some research also suggests that policosanol 10 mg/day is comparable to fluvastatin (Lescol) 20 mg/day and simvastatin (Zocor) 10 mg/day in cholesterol-lowering ability; however, atorvastatin (Lipitor) 10 mg/day is more effective than policosanol 10 mg/day for lowering total and LDL-cholesterol.
These findings are limited by the fact that almost all of this research has been conducted in Cuba by a single research group and manufacturer-sponsored. These studies have also used a policosanol derived from Cuban sugar cane. It is not known if US-manufactured policosanol from sugar cane or policosanol from other plant sources is equivalent to the Cuban product.
Contradictory results have been found by researchers outside of Cuba. A study conducted by German researchers, using Cuban sugar cane-derived policosanol (Dalmer Laboratories, Cuba) 10-80 mg/day, found no significant decrease in total or LDL cholesterol after 12 weeks of treatment. Researchers in the Netherlands also found that wheat germ-derived policosanol 20 mg/day did not significantly lower cholesterol after 4 weeks of treatment. Researchers in South Africa found that a specific form of policosanol (Lesstanol Octa-60, Garuda International) 20 mg/day for 12 weeks does not significantly reduce total or LDL-cholesterol. Canadian researchers, using 10 mg/day of Cuban sugar-cane derived policosanol mixed in margarine, found that policosanol does not significantly reduce total or LDL-cholesterol levels. The reason for these different findings is unclear. More independent, non-manufacturer-sponsored research is needed to accurately confirm any potential benefits of policosanol.

Intermittent claudication

Taking policosanol orally seems to significantly improve walking distance in patients with intermittent claudication.
More evidence is needed to rate policosanol for these uses.

Mechanism of Action:

Policosanol is a mixture of waxy alcohols derived from a variety of plant sources including sugar cane and wheat germ oil. It refers to a mixture of 24-34 carbon alcohols comprised primarily of octacosanol (28-C) and also including tetracosanol (24-C), hexacosanol (26-C), heptacosanol (27-C), nonacosanol (29-C), triacosanol (30-C), dotriacontanol (32-C), and tetratriacontanol.
Sugar cane derived policosanol contains 66% to 67% octacosanol, 12% to 14% triacosanol, 7% to 8% hexacosanol, and 11% to 15% of other carbon alcohols. Wheat germ derived policosanol contains about 68% octacosanol, 12.6% triacosanol, 8% hexacosanol, and about 11% of other carbon alcohols.
Policosanol seems to lower cholesterol levels by inhibiting hepatic cholesterol synthesis and increasing the degradation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Policosanol also decreases arachidonic acid and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Policosanol 20 mg per day reduces platelet aggregation about as much as aspirin 100 mg per day, but it does not seem to significantly affect coagulation time.

Adverse Reactions:

Orally, policosanol is usually well-tolerated. In some patients it can cause erythema, migraines, insomnia, somnolence, irritability, dizziness, upset stomach, polyphagia, dysuria, weight loss, skin rash, and nose and gum bleeding.

Interactions with Herbs & Supplements:

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS:

Concomitant use of herbs and supplements that affect platelet aggregation could theoretically increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Some of these herbs include angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, and others.

Interactions with Drugs:

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS
Interaction Rating = Major Do not take this combination.

Severity = High • Occurrence = Probable • Level of Evidence = D

Policosanol can inhibit platelet aggregation. Theoretically, taking policosanol with other antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding. Some of these drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Interactions with Foods:

None known.

Interactions with Lab Tests:

CHOLESTEROL:

Policosanol can decrease serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and increase high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

Interactions with Diseases or Conditions:

SURGERY:

Policosanol has antiplatelet effects. Policosanol might cause excessive bleeding if used perioperatively. Tell patients to discontinue policosanol at least 2 weeks before elective surgical procedures.

Dosage/Administration:

ORAL:

For hypercholesterolemia: 5-10 mg twice daily is the most common dose; however, doses as high as 80 mg/day have been used.
For intermittent claudication: 10 mg twice daily has been used. It is not known if US manufactured policosanol from sugar cane or policosanol from other plant sources is equivalent to the policosanol product that has been used in most clinical studies.

From the 4 Hour Body

 

POLICOSANOL

Policosanol, an extract of plant waxes, often sugar cane, is the most controversial element in the PAGG stack. I originally experimented with policosanol at low and high doses to increase HDL cholesterol and decrease LDL cholesterol. Used in combination with time-release niacin, one orange before bed, and chromium polynicotinate (not picolinate) during the four-week “Geek to Freak” project detailed in later chapters, I lowered my total cholesterol from 222 to 147 while almost doubling HDL. There was a pleasant side effect: an unintended but significant reduction in bodyfat. I isolated the policosanol over several weeks of further testing. The research studies are far from conclusive regarding policosanol’s effects on cholesterol; most show no effect whatsoever. This could be due to not dosing policosanol before peak cholesterol production between midnight and 4:00 A.M. Regardless, the addition of policosanol (10–25 milligrams before bed) to the PAGG (then AGG) stack produces, in my experience and that of my guinea pigs, far superior effects for fat-loss vs. AGG alone. This was tested with three brands and three dosages (10, 23, and 40 milligrams per day). I found 23 milligrams per day to be optimal for fat-loss, with little additional benefit from higher doses.

Ferriss, Timothy (2010). The 4-Hour Body

 

Resources

 

Best Ranked and Easily Accessible list of products containing: POLICOSANOL

*Canadian Licensed Products:  Learn more

(Number next to supplement indicates NMBER) For Policosanol    was the highest number available on the Natural Medicines Database.

  NOW Foods Policosanol 20mg Plus by NOW Foods Canada*

  Policosanol 20mg by Source Naturals

  Nature’s Life Policosanol Tablets, 23 Mg, 60 Count by Nature’s Life

  GNC Policosanol 10mg By GNC

 

PAGG/AGG Combo by Pareto Nutrition: contains 23 mg of policosanol (not ranked on the Natural Medicines Database)