Policosanol is a mixture of alcohols isolated and refined from sugar cane.

Policosanol has been associated with lower levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol. The level of LDL in a person's blood is related to atherosclerosis (narrowing of the blood vessels due to build up of lipids, also known as "hardening of the arteries").

High levels of LDL cholesterol increase a persons of risk of coronary heart disease. Patients who have taken Policosanol have also shown increased levels of high-density lipoprotein or HDL, the "good" cholesterol. HDL helps carry cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, where it is processed and excreted from the body. A relatively high proportion of HDL in your total cholesterol level may be beneficial in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease.