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Consumer Notice: |
Are these side effects of Lipitor, Zocor or Crestor
dragging you down?
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"The results from the clinical studies involving nearly 30,000 total patients clearly demonstrate that policosanol is overall the absolute best answer to high cholesterol levels, whether we are talking about a nutritional supplement, herbal product or drug." |
Why do most doctors automatically write out a
prescription for a statin drug?
Marcia Angell, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and author
of "The Truth About the Drug Companies" gives us some revealing
clues:
The makers of Lipitor and Zocor alone spent $150 million on advertising in the year 2025 alone.
The pharmaceutical giants employed 88,000 sales representatives in 2025 to "visit" doctors, promote their products and provide them with free samples. That comes out to one drug rep for every 6 practicing physicians!
Medical protocol dictates that statin drugs are automatically prescribed as the "standard of care" regardless of the need. My cardiologist was "miffed" when I chose policosanol rather than take a statin drug.
Physicians have never studied the research.
Recent Policosanol Clinical Trials
Policosanol shown to be more
effective
than Zocor and other statin drugs.
Reported in New Hope
Natural Media, 6/6/02
"In a six-month study, 10 mg per day of Policosanol reduced total cholesterol by 16% and LDL cholesterol by 24%, and increased HDL cholesterol by 29%."
Several other studies have compared Policosanol with some of the conventional medications used for lowering cholesterol and the results have shown that of 5 to 20 mg per day to be more effective than Lovastatin (Mevacor�), pravastatin (Pravachol�)and Simvastatin (Zocor�).
DOUBLE-BLIND STUDIES COMPARING
POLICOSANOL TO CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUGS.
In a
1997
head-to-head study policosanol was compared with statin drugs lovastatin
(Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor)
and pravastatin (Pravachol)
Policosanol and ZOCOR were found to be equally effective
in lowering cholesterol during an eight week study...but
policosanol also significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels and
Zocor did not.
American Heart Journal Report |
Is policosanol safe?
Policosanol is one of
the most widely tested natural products.
In
clinical
trials of nearly 30,000 persons policosanol derived from sugar
cane has been proven to be safe.
Numerous clinical trails show that elderly persons, diabetics and those with liver damage can safely take policosanol.
Studies show that this all natural product made from sugar cane DOES NOT affect blood thinning and there is no interaction between policosanol and blood-thinning medication such as warfarin.
In short and long-term clinical studies, it has been simultaneously used with calcium antagonists, beta-blockers and diuretics with no evidence of clinically relevant adverse interactions.
NASAIDs, anti-depressants, digoxin, warfarin, thyroid hormones and anti-ulcer drugs have also shown no evidence of clinically relevant adverse interactions with policosanol.
What are the side effects of
policosanol?
The side effects of policosanol are rare and
minimal. In studies of 27,879
patients (17,225 patients for two years and 10,654 patients for four years),
only 86 patients (0.31%) reported adverse effects, the most frequent of which
was weight loss.
How long does it take to get
results?
Detailed
clinical trials have
shown that Policosanol
produces beneficial
effects on cholesterol
control within the first
6-8 weeks of use.
What is the recommended dosage?
Dosage used in the clinical studies was from 10 mg to 20 mg per day.
It was shown that increasing the dose to 40 mg had little additional
benefit. The majority of persons take 20 mg per day but others prefer
to start with 10 mg and increase to 20 mg if needed.
Cautions
It is a
good idea to have your cholesterol checked after 8-12 weeks of use and
reduce your dosage if it causes your cholesterol to drop below 150
mg/dL.
Many doctors fail to tell you that your risk of stroke increases if your cholesterol becomes too low.
Pregnant or nursing women should not take policosanol without consulting with a health care professional.
Additional Benefits of Policosanol
Increases protective HDL cholesterol levels. Most statin drugs do NOT improve HDLs. HDL cholesterol levels typically increase by 15 to 25% after only two months of policosanol use.
HDLs also douse the fires of inflammation. It is this smoldering inflammation and oxidation that causes the cholesterol in our arteries to turn rancid and clog our arteries.
Scientific studies also show that people with the highest levels of HDL cholesterol have the greatest longevity.
It doesn�t interfere with sex life as statins often do.
Lowers Lp(a) cholesterol. Many researchers say this is the "baddest" form of cholesterol.
Reduces platelet aggregation (stickiness) which lowers risk of arterial blood clots.
Improves intermittent claudication (pain in the leg muscles due to inadequate blood supply).
This all natural supplement may prevent and reverse atherosclerotic lesions and thrombosis (clotting).
Summary
The benefits of
policosanol are well documented by
numerous studies and come with recommendations from recognized
authorities such as Dr. Michael Murray and The
American Heart Association. Unlike statin drugs such
as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor, side effects are rare and minimal.
I'm Gene Millen. Fifteen years ago a highly skilled heart
surgeon, sawed open my chest and stitched in bypasses to six of my favorite
heart arteries.
In 1993 my wife Bernie and
I opened the Vital Life Center, a health and wellness center for the
"'50+ crowd." Our clients
over the last eleven years have
included
hundreds of people who have been at risk for a heart attack...and many
who have already experienced them.
Click here to review some
pictures and comments from Vital
Life Members.
The Vital Life Health and
Wellness Program
was judged #2 in the United States
in competition with more than
2,500 health clubs.
In November 2025 we retired from Vital Life to devote full time to helping people all over the U.S. live a vital, energetic and heart healthy life.
When I first heard about policosanol I was skeptical because it seemed too good to be true. However, after studying the research I not only became convinced...I got excited. This is one of the best natural products that I have ever reviewed.
Policosanol has my personal recommendation...and nothing is too good for my heart!
A word of caution. Nutritional supplements aren't regulated by the FDA and studies show that many products do not contain the ingredients shown on the label.
Consumer Lab tested 7 policosanol supplements and found that four contained only 23% to 78% of the ingredients listed on the bottle. "Let the buyer beware."
Many of the cheap brands are made with
bees wax or plant waxes which may not work as well as the sugar cane formulas.
The
University of Kansas Hospital "Natural Pharmacist" website
reports,
"There is reason for concern that
policosanol products
made
with bees wax may not be effective."
You can click here for the policosanol I recommend and have been taking... Vital Life Nutritionals Policosanol Extra Strength 20 mg caps.
I like the fact that they are made with sugar cane and use the exact same formula used in the clinical trials. They also provide a "Life Time Money Back Guarantee" if for some reason policosanol doesn't work for you...which is highly unlikely.
Vital Life Nutritionals are manufactured by Vitamer Labs, a pharmaceutically registered facility that has been a leader in the manufacturing of natural supplements since the early 1970�s. These all-natural supplements meet stringent FDA regulations.
� All Vital Life Nutritionals products have received the highest rating in the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) program and the GMP seal is displayed on the label.
Most brands don't give a complete breakdown of the ingredients...and you will want to read the fine print in their "guarantee" very, very carefully.
Yours for a vital and healthy heart for Life!
Gene
Policosanol is derived from sugar cane shown ready for harvest. |