Abstract
Overwhelming evidence indicates that reduction of blood low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), ratio of LDL-C/HDL-C, and TG/HDL-C ameliorate the occurrence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Long-chain alcohols and aldehydes known generically as policosanol (PC) and policosanal have attracted attention from researchers and scientists due to their cholesterol-lowering health benefits. Many researchers reported that PC decreased serum cholesterol, while others failed to reproduce this effect. The objective of this investigation was to update research data and establish the optimal future research direction of PC as a cholesterol-lowering alternative for use in food, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical industries. PC distribution differs in individual plants and maturity stage affects composition. PCs are considered as limiting nutraceuticals. Regular food sources for humans include rice bran oil, olive oil especially cold-pressed extraction, and non-centrifugal sugar products from sugarcane. Waste products discarded from rice bran oil are considered as good sources of policosanol. Most human clinical trials found PC to be effective in reducing serum cholesterol, whereas others reported no effect, especially for PC extracted from dietary sources. Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase as the rate-controlling enzyme of the mevalonate pathway has been proved as the cellular mechanism which lowers serum-cholesterol levels. This review offers ideas for the direction of future PC research. PC is a limited nutraceutical which offers promise for the prevention of hypercholesterolemia. Further studies are required to determine an effective PC composition for cholesterol reduction which will benefit the food, dietary supplement, and pharmaceutical industries.
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