PoliXtra, as branded by Wonder Labs, is a dietary supplement that contains policosanol as its primary ingredient. Policosanol, a combination of alcohols, is usually extracted from Cuban sugar cane wax, although it can also be derived from wheat germ, rice bran, or beeswax. Studies and other types of research on policosanol have been limited with mixed results, although policosanol is generally thought to have a positive effect on your health in terms of lowering cholesterol and alleviating cramping muscle pains related to poor circulation, such as in the legs, per livestrong.com. Policosanol is also being evaluated for its potential in terms of diminishing blood clots, enhancing blood vessel health, lowering blood sugar levels, and accelerating the healing time of wounds.
Deeper Dive on Polixtra's Health Benefits
Let's take a longer look at the purported benefits of policosanol and the research relevant to determining its efficacy in treating you for various issues. As always, before adding PoliXtra, or policosanol, to your regimen, be sure to discuss all this with your physician or other health-care provider:- Lowers cholesterol. Limited studies have shown that policosanol can reduce both total cholesterol and LDL ( bad ) cholesterol. In one of the studies conducted by Cuban researchers on policosanol, close to 600 men and women with both high blood pressure and elevated total cholesterol – but without a history of congenital heart disease or cerebrovascular disease – were given 5 to 10 milligrams daily of policosanol, with results showing a significant decrease in LDL and triglycerides with a rise in HDL ( good ) cholesterol, per bodynutrition.org, citing National Institutes of Health (NIH). Per verywellhealth.com, researchers have also determined that policosanol could possibly be developed into an effective means for controlling the boost in blood sugar and cholesterol levels following meals.
- Reduce elevated blood pressure. Per bodynutrition.org, a South Korean pilot study demonstrated that supplementation of policosanol lowered blood pressure in 25 volunteer test subjects. The study involved young smokers as well as non-smokers, in addition to middle-aged subjects, all of whom were given 10 milligrams of policosanol a day for eight weeks. Results showed a noticeable reduction in systolic blood pressure for both the young smokers and middle-aged volunteers.
- Prevent osteoporosis. In one study, researchers using rats as animal test subjects found that policosanol prevented bone loss at the same time it reduced bone resorption, rendering a conclusion that the supplement could be helpful in preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, per bodynutrition.org.
- Thwart blood vessel damage. This has been borne out in studies by Cuban researchers in which policosanol was also demonstrated to reduce platelet aggregation, per livestrong.com.
- Treat leg pain. This refers to leg pain related to poor blood circulation, a condition known as intermittent claudication. This usually entails pain in the calves, thighs, hips, or buttocks caused by insufficient blood flow, typically experienced during exercise. Supplementation with policosanol can help in that regard.