Octacosanol is a chemical compound found in plants such as nuts, sugar cane, vegetable oil, and whole grains.. It is thought to improve upon the body's natural ability to process and use oxygen, reducing serum cholesterol and triglyceride contents and systolic blood pressure, etc.
Octacosanol is widely used as a dietary supplement by some athletes, people with high level of cholesterol and some other conditions. There has been many evidence found to suggest that administration of Octacosanol helps the body process oxygen and increase the amount of oxygen that is in the blood and flowing to the muscles. It is taken to increase strength and stamina, as well as to improve reaction time. This compound is also used in the treatment of a myriad of diseases, including Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease. It also can be prescribed for herpes, skin infections, high cholesterol and hardening of the arteries.
Octacosanol & Dyslipidemia
The most common use of Octacosanol is to treat and prevent dyslipidemia (high cholesterol). A study conducted in Cuba in 2001 found that it helped normalize total and LDL (" bad ") cholesterol levels.
Another study, also conducted in Cuba in 2002, found similar effects on lipid profiles at doses of 20 and 40 mg per day. These benefits may be especially significant when supplements are combined with healthy lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet and physical activity levels.
Similarly, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published in Molecular Nutrition and Food Research (2017) concluded that "the results support the lipid-reducing effects and safety of Octacosanol. "
Octacosanol are thought to work by reducing cholesterol production in the liver, and it may also increase the broken down of LDL. In addition, it can help support the function of "good" HDL cholesterol.
Some emerging research suggests that continued supplementation with a combination of Octacosanol and aspirin may reduce the risk of heart disease in people with a history of clogged arteries.
More Safe than cooking salt
According to the oral test of mice, the LD50 of octadecanol is more than 18000mg/kg, which is safer than cooking salt (LD50=3000mg/kg). Meanwhile, the mouse sperm aberration test, mouse bone marrow micronucleus test and Ames test were negative.
That means that Octadecanol is SATETY enough to take long time as a food supplement.