Policosanol Vs Statins

Policosanol and Statins are two of the most common compounds used for post cycle therapy. Those substances slowly but steadily gain popularity in the world of professional sports and bodybuilding. In this guide on Policosanol vs Statins, we will read about both these compounds and what differentiates them.

Primarily obtained from sugar cane, Policosanol is used by athletes and bodybuilders to treat leg pain caused during intense workouts because of poor circulation of blood in the body. It is also advised to people who are diagnosed with heart diseases and high cholesterol. Policosanol has the ability to reduce the production of cholesterol in the liver and increase breakdown of LDL (low-density lipoprotein or "bad") cholesterol. In addition to this, it also helps HDL (high-density lipoprotein or "good") cholesterol work better.  Moreover, Policosanol is also known to reduce the stickiness of blood cells known as platelets.

One of the best things about Policosanol is that it can minimize low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol oxidation, platelet aggregation, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and endothelial damage. It can also inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver and enhance cholesterol degradation. These long-chain aliphatic alcohols that are commonly found in natural sources such as sugar cane and beeswax are highly effective to reduce serum cholesterol.

Policosanol (also known as nonacosanol, octacosanol, tetracosanol, tetratriacontanol, 32–C, dotriacontanol, heptacosanol, hexacosanol, and triacontanol) remains stable at temperatures up to 185°C. Cholesterol synthesis is inhibited by Policosanol before the formation of mevalonate that suggests a modulatory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, which is the target of statin drugs.

In addition to these advantages, it is widely believed that Policosanol can provide significant relief to people who have had an angioplasty with a stent as it increases platelet activity. Furthermore, Policosanol when taken alone or in a combination with aspirin can dramatically cut down the risk of heart disease-related events in people who are diagnosed with clogged arteries. Policosanol is also advised to reduce blood pressure in people who are starting to have high blood pressure. It is also suggested to people who have abnormal levels of cholesterol or other blood fats (dyslipidemia). In some cases, Policosanol is also indicated to people who experience symptoms that enhance the risk of health conditions such as heart diseases, stroke (metabolic syndrome), and diabetes. It may also be suggested to people who have high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia).

The recommended dose of Policosanol is 50-80mg every day taken for a maximum of two or three years at a stretch. Under no circumstances, Policosanol should be abused or overdosed else it can lead to rare side effects such as skin redness, weight loss, dizziness, headaches, or sleep difficulties. Policosanol is not advised to children; it is also not advised to pregnant, lactating, or breastfeeding women. It is worth noting here that Policosanol can slow down blood clotting and might increase the chances of bleeding in people who are diagnosed with bleeding disorders. This compound can reduce blood sugar levels and it may become a cause of concern for people who are making the use of insulin or other diabetes medications. Therefore, it is important that Policosanol should be used with a high sense of care and diligence and its use must be stopped at least 2-4 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Taking Policosanol with medications that can slow blood clotting may increase the chance of bleeding and bruising. Some medications that can slow down blood clotting include clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), aspirin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), and others. Policosanol should not be used with beta-blockers such as nadolol (Corgard), propranolol (Inderal), atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), and others. It should not be used along with diabetes medications such as insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), and others.

On the other hand, statins refer to a group of medications that inhibit an enzyme known as HMG-CoA reductase, which regulates the production of cholesterol in the liver. They reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol.

Statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), pitavastatin (Livalo), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor, Ezallor), fluvastatin (Lescol XL), lovastatin (Altoprev), and simvastatin (Zocor, FloLipid). They are routinely prescribed to cut down the risk of severe and debilitating health conditions such as stroke or heart attack. In addition to these advantages, statins help in stabilizing the plaques on walls of blood vessels and significantly minimize the risk of certain blood clots. Statins also reduce inflammation in the artery walls and reduce the risk of having a stroke or heart attack. They are also known to minimize cholesterol oxidation that can prevent it from building up on the walls of arteries. Statins also reduce the activities of platelets and minimize dysfunction in the blood vessels on the surface of the heart.

The common side effects associated with statins include cramps, stiffness, bone or joint pain, muscle aches, or tiredness.

Statins should not be used by people who consume too much alcohol or have health condition such as hypothyroidism or neuromuscular disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They are also not generally advised to people who are 80 years or older and those who are diagnosed with liver or kidney diseases. Statins are not advised to pregnant, breastfeeding, or lactating women.

We hope that this blog on policosanol vs. statins was informative and helpful to you.