#2463

That is not convincing to me still since it is only one study.
If other studies fail then it suggest it is not a good supplement.

#2464

Not convincing but interesting. The german study i note was for a shorter period than the positive studies
(korean and cuban)
I also found another 2023 study in Japan with a positive result.

ā€œIn conclusion, 12 weeks of Cuban policosanolconsumption in Japanese subjects showed significant improvement in blood pressure, lipid profiles, hepatic functions, and HbA1c with enhancement of HDL functionalitiesā€

1 Like
#2465

The other (negative) 2006 study by Dulin et al was only 8 weeks. Same for the 2008 Italian study
Maybe thereā€™s a time issue? Speculativelyā€¦ Gut microbiome modulation effects often take longer.

1 Like
#2466

Finallyā€¦ This 2019 systematic review and met analysis of RCTs found a positive result for improvements in blood pressure from policosanol.

This is getting more convincing the longer i look. Iā€™ve got some beeswax/honeycomb honey somewhere - i might just try a n= 1 study.

2.5g of wax = circa 22mg policosanol

2 Likes
#2467

That study looks shady to me, lots of measurements at different points (multiple comparisons problem), excluding half of the participants. At week 8 LDL-c was statistically significant but not other weeksā€¦

#2468

Which study? The japanese or Korean. Or the meta analysis,?

#2469

The study done in Japan, both are Korean studies.
It was ā€œinterestingā€ (according to the authors) that there was an effect at 8 weeks in LDL-c.

#2470

How come? It seems to be that the field is very bullish on the new Lp(a) lowering meds

1 Like
#2471

Because while Lp(a) is the worst kind of apoB particle, it only accounts for a low percentage of all apoB particles.

#2472

Although a low percentage, itā€™s apparently enough to cause atherosclerosis. Multiple drug companies wouldnā€™t be betting millions of dollars if the theory werenā€™t strong, and it definitely is strong from all the papers Iā€™ve seen.

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#2473

I think weā€™re talking about the same study - the one carried out at a Japanese hospital? Fukuoka University Hospital?

"Shady"seems a bit strong. Nothing inherently wrong measuring multiple things every 4 weeks. The low compliance was obviously an issue but i think ā€œshadyā€ suggests dubious integrity. Notwithstanding the small sample size, the results look pretty decent for hba1c, blood pressure and hdl/ldl ratio improvements.

It also gives an interesting insight into a possible reason for the negative 2006 german study : "
At the baseline of the study, however, all the participants (mean age: 56 Ā± 12 years old, body mass index = 27.2 Ā± 3.6) were patients with hypercholesterolemia who quit statin 6 weeks ago."
Trying to disentangle the statin termination affect would be a bit messy.

#2474

I give a lot of credence to Japanese studies. I would say they are more truthful than those from other countries including the USA.

2 Likes
#2475

It is a South Korean study.

By the way, there are a lot of statins available and as Peter recommends is ā€œto try a coupleā€ until one gets a statin with the lowest amount of side effects. Of course if you arenā€™t going to use Bempedoic Acid.

#2476

Iā€™ve ordered and paid for my bempedoic acid. I hope it works. Also ordered more Ezetimibe and Metformin from Jagdish. My courier will bring it over at Christmas.

1 Like
#2477

It will. Bempedoic Acid and Ezetimibe will be a good combo. How is Ezetimibe moving your apoB or LDL-c levels?

#2478

Iā€™ll do my next blood work around Christmas. So I should know by early January. :slight_smile:

Hereā€™s hoping for the best.

1 Like
#2479

Is it important that you think itā€™s a South Korean study? Iā€™m not sure what the relevance is? I was shorthand referring to it as ā€˜the japanese studyā€™ to distinguish it from the other positive (SKorean) study and because it was carried out on Japanese subjects at Fukuhama university hospital in Japan. But yes the lead author and much of the work was done in S Korea. So it is technically an international study. But im not sure what the relevance is?

And yes i have heard of statins. ; ) But Iā€™m not sure why they are relevant to this discussion on whether policosanol is beneficial ( or not) to BP, hba1c and blood lipids. Anuser, you seem to be fighting some battle rather than wanting to assess the evidence. That makes for bad science.

1 Like
#2480

The relevance is that itā€™s false.

I am not discussing policosanol when mentioning statins, that was a response to DeStrider.

1 Like
#2481

Anuser, Itā€™s equally false to call a study carried out on Japanese subjects at Fukuoka University Hospital (in Japan) by scientists from both Japan and S Korea a ā€œKorean studyā€. So my question really was about whether your focus on this had any substantive importance.

Iā€™m quite interested in policosanol (because I keep bees), does anyone have any experience of using it? The blood pressure results look robust (Policosanol supplementation significantly improves blood pressure among adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - PubMed) and im interested if anyone has experience of this?

#2482

I didnā€™t notice they had Japanese scientists as well, because all of the lead authors are South Korean. I wouldnā€™t call it a Korean study now, thanks for pointing that out. I have zero interest in policosanol personally and it would require a lot of evidence to convince me otherwise. I think that for most supplements though.

1 Like