IngredientsFatty alcohols are a type of alcohol containing a long hydrocarbon chain with a hydroxyl group at the end, derived from natural fats and oils. They are long-chain aliphatic alcohols, typically containing eight to twenty-two carbon atoms. More precisely, this range extends well beyond twenty-two carbons in certain dietary and pharmacologically relevant forms; the full series of straight-chain fatty alcohols includes lauryl alcohol (C12), myristyl alcohol (C14), cetyl alcohol (C16), stearyl alcohol (C18), arachidyl alcohol (C20), behenyl alcohol (C22), lignoceryl alcohol (C24), ceryl alcohol (C26), montanyl alcohol (C28), myricyl alcohol (C30), lacceryl alcohol (C32), and geddyl alcohol (C34), among others.
In general, fatty alcohols used in formulation are normal (straight-chain, primary) alcohols from natural fats and oils, having an even number of carbon atoms, and can be saturated or unsaturated. Unsaturated liquid fatty alcohols include those with at least one double or triple bond in their structure; these may contain several double bonds which may be conjugated or non-conjugated, and can be linear or branched. Liquid unsaturated fatty alcohols include oleyl alcohol, linoleyl alcohol, linolenyl alcohol, and undecylenyl alcohol.
The saturated members most frequently encountered in nutritional and pharmaceutical contexts are the very-long-chain fatty alcohols (VLCFAs). These include myristyl alcohol (or 1-tetradecanol), cetyl alcohol (or 1-hexadecanol), stearyl alcohol (or 1-octadecanol), arachidyl alcohol (or 1-eicosanol), behenyl alcohol (or 1-docosanol), lignoceryl alcohol (or 1-tetracosanol), ceryl alcohol (or 1-hexacosanol), montanyl alcohol (or 1-octacosanol), and myricyl alcohol (or 1-triacontanol).
The commercially most prominent supplemental mixture of very-long-chain fatty alcohols is known as policosanol. This name originally referred to a mixture of eight higher aliphatic primary alcohols obtained at the beginning of the 1990s from sugar-cane wax, and patented by Cuban researchers for its ability to lower blood cholesterol, and its antiplatelet and antioxidant properties. Policosanol is a mixture of alcohols isolated and purified from the outer wax of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). It consists of 66% octacosanol, 12% triacontanol, and 7% hexacosanol, and smaller amounts of other alcohols.
A second fatty alcohol of major pharmaceutical significance is docosanol (1-docosanol, behenyl alcohol, C22). 1-Docosanol, also known as behenyl alcohol, is a saturated fatty alcohol containing 22 carbon atoms, used traditionally as an emollient, emulsifier, and thickener in cosmetics. In July 2000, docosanol was approved for medical use in the United States as an antiviral agent for reducing the duration of cold sores; it is an over-the-counter medication sold under the brand name Abreva, among others.
Fatty alcohols can be derived from natural sources such as plant oils (e.g., coconut oil, palm oil) and animal fats. The production process involves the hydrogenation of fatty acids to produce the desired alcohols. Fatty alcohols are natural or synthetic high-consistency ingredients; they can be derived from the hydrogenation of triglyceride fatty acids in vegetable oils or synthesized from petrochemical feedstocks.
About 50% of fatty alcohols used commercially are of natural origin, the remainder being synthetic. Natural plant-derived sources include a diverse array of botanical waxes and oils. Fatty alcohols are an important class of olive oil minor constituents and are used as a criterion to differentiate various olive oil designations. The main linear alcohols present in olive oil are docosanol, tetracosanol, hexacosanol, and octacosanol; odd carbon-atom alcohols (tricosanol, pentacosanol, heptacosanol) are quantified at trace levels. Total aliphatic alcohol content does not usually exceed 350 mg/kg in olive oil.
Sugarcane wax (Saccharum officinarum) is the primary industrial source for policosanol-type long-chain fatty alcohol mixtures. Policosanol has been derived from various parts of the sugarcane, such as sugarcane wax, sugarcane peel, and sugarcane rind. These substances can also be found in wheat germ oil, alfalfa, and some animal products. Policosanol is derived through hydrolysis of wax esters and isolation of the alcohol constituent.
Cetyl alcohol is made from vegetable oil (such as palm or coconut oil) and is a common ingredient in cosmetic products and foods. Stearyl alcohol, also known as octadecyl alcohol or 1-octadecanol, is a substance prepared from stearic acid by the process of catalytic hydrogenation, and has the molecular formula C18H38O.
Historically, chemists discovered that spermaceti and liquid sperm oil of marine mammals are pure fatty alcohol and fatty acid esters; by simply splitting the esters, researchers obtained fatty alcohols and fatty acids. With the decline of whale-based sources in the twentieth century, plant-derived and petrochemical sources became dominant.
Analysis by GC-MS shows qualitative and quantitative differences in policosanol-like preparations from different plant sources and origins. Products marketed as policosanol in the United States are often derived from beeswax or wheat germ, differing in composition from the sugarcane version and lacking robust research support.
Fatty alcohols in dietary supplement and pharmaceutical contexts exist in several forms:
Fatty alcohols, a group of naturally occurring long-chain alcohols derived primarily from plant and animal fats, have a long-standing history in medicinal and nutritional applications. Traditionally, these compounds were sourced from natural materials such as beeswax, spermaceti, and various vegetable oils. Their use in folk and traditional medicine spans centuries, with records indicating their inclusion in remedies for skin ailments, wound healing, and as emollients in ointments.
The soothing, moisturizing properties of fatty alcohols, including cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and others, made them valuable in treating dry, irritated, or inflamed skin, enhancing the effectiveness of herbal salves and balms. Beeswax, rich in very-long-chain fatty alcohol esters, has a particularly long history of use across many cultures in wound dressings, lip balms, and skin-protective preparations.
Spermaceti — a waxy substance obtained from the head cavity of sperm whales — was once widely used in apothecary preparations, candles, and as a base for skin ointments and cosmetics from at least the eighteenth century onward. Chemists discovered that spermaceti and liquid sperm oil of marine mammals are pure fatty alcohol and fatty acid esters. Its primary constituent, cetyl alcohol (1-hexadecanol, C16), was identified and isolated from this source, giving the compound its name (from cetus, Latin for whale).
Very long chain fatty alcohols obtained from plant waxes and beeswax have been reported to lower plasma cholesterol in humans. This review discusses nutritional or regulatory effects produced by wax esters or aliphatic acids and alcohols found in unrefined cereal grains, beeswax, and many plant-derived foods.
The most pharmacologically investigated fatty alcohol mixture is policosanol, whose detailed composition has been characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Policosanol (sugar cane wax alcohol) contains several alcohol chains of various lengths, including 1-tetracosanol, 1-heptacosanol, 1-nonacosanol, 1-dotriacontanol, 1-hexacosanol, 1-octacosanol (600–700 relative units), 1-triacontanol, and 1-tetratriacontanol.
Eight aliphatic fatty alcohols identified in one study were 1-tetracosanol, 1-hexacosanol, 1-heptacosanol, 1-octacosanol, 1-nonacosanol, 1-triacontanol, 1-dotriacontanol, and 1-tetratriacontanol, each having 24 to 34 carbons. Three compounds isolated from Chinese beeswax were identified as dotriacontanol, triacontanol, and octacosanol in another report. The saturated carbon structure results in policosanol being hydrophobic.
The individual most studied member of the series is octacosanol (1-octacosanol, C28), which comprises approximately 60–66% of standard sugarcane-derived policosanol. Policosanol is a generic term referring to a mixture of high molecular weight, aliphatic primary alcohols (waxy substances), of which octacosanol (1-octacosanol) is the main component (approximately 60%).
Docosanol (C22, behenyl alcohol) is a 22-carbon saturated primary fatty alcohol. 1-Docosanol, a 22-carbon straight-chain saturated fatty alcohol, also known as behenyl alcohol, used traditionally as an emollient, emulsifier, and thickener in cosmetics, is approved by the US FDA as Abreva® (trademark of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare), an antiviral agent for reducing the duration of cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Normal fatty aldehyde and alcohol metabolism is essential for epidermal differentiation and function. Long-chain aldehydes are produced by catabolism of several lipids including fatty alcohols, sphingolipids, ether glycerolipids, isoprenoid alcohols, and certain aliphatic lipids that undergo α- or ω-oxidation. The fatty aldehyde generated by these pathways is chiefly metabolized to fatty acid by fatty aldehyde dehydrogenase (FALDH, alternately known as ALDH3A2), which also functions to oxidize fatty alcohols as a component of the fatty alcohol:NAD oxidoreductase (FAO) enzyme complex.
Wax esters are hydrolyzed by a bile salt–dependent pancreatic carboxyl esterase, releasing long-chain alcohols and fatty acids that are absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies of fatty alcohol metabolism in fibroblasts suggest that very long-chain fatty alcohols, fatty aldehydes, and fatty acids are reversibly inter-converted in a fatty alcohol cycle.
At the cellular biosynthetic level, two putative reductase enzymes, FAR1 and FAR2, have been identified; expression studies in intact cells showed that FAR1 and FAR2 cDNAs encoded isozymes that reduce fatty acids to fatty alcohols. Fatty acyl-CoA esters were the substrate of FAR1, which required NADPH as a cofactor. FAR1 preferred saturated and unsaturated fatty acids of 16 or 18 carbons as substrates, whereas FAR2 preferred saturated fatty acids of 16 or 18 carbons. FAR1 and FAR2 were localized in the peroxisome.
Some studies have explored the metabolic fate of dietary fatty alcohols, suggesting they are largely metabolized to their corresponding fatty acids and incorporated into normal lipid metabolism.
Although the mechanism involved in the anticholesterolaemic effect has not been fully elucidated, there is clear evidence that policosanol induces AMP kinase phosphorylation and inhibits HMG-CoA reductase. This is distinct from statins in important respects: unlike statins, policosanol does not directly inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, and even in high concentrations it fails to down-regulate this enzyme by more than 50%, likely accounting for the safety of this nutraceutical.
Instead of inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase as most cholesterol-lowering drugs do, policosanol may have a different mechanism of action, such as the down-regulation of HMG-CoA reductase production at the level of gene expression and/or at the proteomic level. Some studies demonstrate that policosanol promotes the phosphorylation of AMP-kinase in hepatoma cells, suggesting that this is the likely mechanism by which HMG-CoA reductase activity is reduced in treated cells. The oral absorption and bioavailability of policosanol are limited, and a lipid-lowering effect in the intestine cannot be ruled out.
The exact mechanism of action of policosanol for lipid lowering has not been sufficiently elucidated, but has been associated with suppression of cholesterol synthesis as well as stimulation of the degradation of LDL cholesterol in liver cells by activating lipases. It may also inhibit HMG-CoA reductase activity and increase LDL receptor protein levels, as shown via an increased hepatic LDL-binding activity.
Suppression of platelet aggregation is believed to be associated with the effect of prostaglandin synthesis. Policosanol lowers the level of thromboxane A2 in the serum and increases prostacyclin level, and it also reduces the risk of thrombosis.
Antiviral agents such as acyclovir and penciclovir prevent viral replication through their competitive inhibition of viral DNA polymerase. In contrast, docosanol appears to inhibit replication by blocking viral entry into cells. Incorporation of docosanol into the plasma membrane is believed to alter the normal membrane to inhibit the fusion of virions to the host cell.
This is the most extensively studied application of fatty alcohol mixtures (policosanol). The body of evidence is substantial in volume but contested in quality and generalizability.
Over 1,000 subjects have been studied for periods of six weeks to one year in 15 randomized, placebo-controlled trials using policosanol (5 to 20 mg per day) for lipid lowering. Policosanol is a mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols purified from sugar-cane wax; the mixture has cholesterol-lowering efficacy, with specific effects being to reduce serum total cholesterol and LDL-C, and to increase HDL-C. The effects of policosanol on triglycerides are modest and inconsistent.
A major large-scale Cuban randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolled a substantial cohort: This study investigated the effects of policosanol administered for 12 months on the lipid profile of older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia and no history of CHD or cerebrovascular disease. It included 589 older male and female patients, and was a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in parallel groups treated with policosanol (5 to 10 mg/day). Policosanol administered long-term was found effective in lowering LDL-C and TC as well as increasing HDL-C levels in older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia. In addition, policosanol treatment also showed benefits in the occurrence of serious adverse events (SAEs) of vascular aetiology and reduction of blood pressure compared with baseline.
A meta-analysis examining dyslipidemic patients found: policosanol was found to significantly improve the lipid profile parameters, specifically total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C but not triglycerides, in dyslipidemia patients at a dose of 10 mg for 8 weeks.
A Sage Journals review of the nutritional literature reported: reports suggest that 5–20 mg per day of mixed C24–C34 alcohols, including octacosanol and triacontanol, lower LDL cholesterol by 21%–29% and raise HDL cholesterol by 8%–15%.
However, a pivotal independent European trial directly contradicted these findings. A high-quality randomized controlled trial published in JAMA (PubMed ID 16705107) yielded negative results: No statistically significant difference between policosanol and placebo was observed. A nonparametric test analyzing dose-dependency yielded nonsignificant results. In none of the secondary outcome measures — namely total cholesterol, HDL-C, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), and ratio of total or LDL-C to HDL-C — were there any significant effects of policosanol. Policosanol was tolerated well without serious adverse events. In patients with hypercholesterolemia or combined hyperlipidemia, the sugar cane-derived policosanol in usual and high doses does not demonstrate a reduction in lipid levels beyond placebo.
There have been many controversial studies concerning the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of policosanol. Italian, American, Cuban, and Chinese groups have all reported the potent efficacy of policosanol in increasing HDL and lowering LDL along with reduced oxidation of LDL. American and German groups reported that policosanol is ineffective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Interestingly, Berthold's group reported that policosanol is a promising phytochemical alternative for lipid reduction; however, the same group later reported no lipid-lowering effect of policosanol in hyperlipidemic patients.
A single research group in South America has conducted much of the published clinical data on a uniform population, casting some concerns about validity and generalizability. The majority of the existing studies have been conducted in Cuba, and independent verification is needed before its use can be recommended.
A comparison with statin therapy was examined in an eight-week trial: another eight-week trial of 53 elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia compared the effectiveness of 5 mg of policosanol twice daily with 5 mg of simvastatin twice daily. In the policosanol group, LDL and total cholesterol were lowered by 17.9% and 14.7%, respectively, whereas LDL and total cholesterol were lowered by 19.8% and 15.2%, respectively, in the simvastatin group. Policosanol administered at 10 mg/d has demonstrated similar lipid-lowering efficacy to lovastatin administered at 20 mg/d; lovastatin was slightly more effective in lowering TC, but policosanol was slightly more effective in increasing HDL-C.
A 2025 systematic review following PRISMA guidelines found: policosanol supplementation is associated with reductions in total cholesterol and LDL levels and increases in HDL levels.
Overall evidence strength: A few clinical investigations have examined policosanol, a mixture of long-chain fatty alcohols derived from sugarcane or beeswax, for potential lipid-lowering effects, with some trials reporting modest benefits for cholesterol management. However, results have been inconsistent, and systematic reviews indicate that more rigorous, large-scale clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings. The discrepancy between positive Cuban studies and negative independent European and North American trials remains unresolved and represents a significant limitation to the evidence base.
Policosanol contains a mixture of concentrated primary aliphatic alcohols extracted from sugar cane wax and is recognized as a cholesterol-lowering drug, but previous studies reported that it could be helpful for reducing blood pressure as well. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials searched PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through March 2019. This analysis concluded that policosanol supplementation significantly improves blood pressure among adults. Most of the reviewed articles showed policosanol to be effective in reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose level, body weight, total cholesterol level, and triglyceride level.
Several clinical studies have shown that policosanol decreased arterial pressure compared with placebo, and a pharmacological interaction with beta-blockers was experimentally proven.
Policosanol has favorable effects on intermittent claudication, possibly due to its effects on platelet aggregation and endothelial function. Clinical trials indicate that policosanol may have applications in the treatment of familial (type II) and diabetes-related hypercholesterolemia, as well as intermittent claudication.
Two key randomized, placebo-controlled trials, both originating from the Cuban research group, examined this endpoint specifically. In the first, 62 patients were randomized to receive, under double-blind conditions, either placebo (31 patients) or policosanol (31), 10 mg twice daily. Walking distances were assessed before and after 6 months of treatment. Policosanol increased significantly (p < 0.01) the initial claudication distance from 132.5 ± 13.5 m (baseline) to 205.7 ± 36.3 m (after therapy) and the absolute claudication distance (p < 0.0001) from 229.5 ± 22.0 m to 365.4 ± 46.9 m; meanwhile both variables remained unchanged in the placebo group.
A longer follow-up trial confirmed these results: this study investigated the long-term effects of policosanol in patients with moderately severe intermittent claudication, consisting of a 6-week single-blind run-in phase followed by a 2-year double-blind, randomized treatment step. Fifty-six patients were randomized to receive placebo or policosanol 10 mg twice daily. After 6 months of therapy, policosanol significantly increased (p < 0.01) the initial claudication distance from 125.9 ± 8.7 m to 201.1 ± 24.8 m and the absolute claudication distance from 219.5 ± 14.1 m to 380.7 ± 50.2 m.
A comparative study against lovastatin found: policosanol, but not lovastatin, is a suitable alternative to manage patients with intermittent claudication because of pleiotropic properties beyond its cholesterol-lowering effects.
Limitation: Several independent studies that attempted to replicate the cholesterol-related results failed to find benefit. For this reason, all claims associated with policosanol are in doubt. The claudication evidence relies substantially on the same Cuban research group whose lipid findings were not independently reproducible.
Policosanol, a well-tolerated long-chain aliphatic alcohol, has been proven to be effective against the components of metabolic syndrome (namely dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity) even when used for a long period with minimal or no adverse effects, according to a review of the published literature from 2010 to 2021. However, much of this evidence comes from the same group of Cuban investigators or from animal models.
Policosanol could reduce fasting glucose levels and improve tissue insulin sensitivity. One study on rice policosanol showed no significant effect on plasma triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL-C, oxidized-LDL-C, apoproteins B, fibrinogen, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein, but a significant reduction in plasma total cholesterol and an improvement in apoprotein A1 were reported.
Beyond simply raising HDL-C levels, some research has examined the qualitative function of HDL particles after policosanol treatment. A PMC-published clinical study from 2024 conducted in healthy Japanese subjects found that Cuban policosanol improved HDL cholesterol efflux capacity, with proposed mechanisms including cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibition. In a previous study, subjects with exceptional longevity and lower incidence of cardiovascular disease showed a larger HDL particle size, lower CETP concentration, and CETP gene mutation (I405V) than control groups. Many clinical studies have suggested an atheroprotective role for larger HDL particles, as CETP inhibitors increase plasma HDL cholesterol levels.
The literature was systematically searched for studies published up to November 2023 in PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, EMBASE, and Scopus. Randomized controlled trial studies were included to evaluate the intervention effect of policosanol compared to placebo on ALT and AST. DerSimonian and Laird models were used to calculate effect sizes. Twenty-three trials including 2,535 participants were included in the study. The combination of effect sizes, regarding the random-effects model, demonstrated significant changes in ALT serum levels after intervention (WMD: −1.48 U/L; 95% CI: −2.33 to −0.64).
This is the one area of fatty alcohol pharmacology with unambiguous regulatory endorsement. Docosanol is the only FDA-approved topical agent that is available over the counter for management of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL). Its mechanism of action is unique compared with other available antiviral agents. The first FDA-approved non-prescription topical medication for orolabial herpes was docosanol 10% cream (Abreva®), which demonstrated an 18-hour shorter median time to healing in treated patients compared to placebo (Sacks et al., 2001).
Clinical studies showed that treatment with 10% docosanol cream is safe and effective, and reduces curing time of herpes labialis. N-docosanol shortened the time to lesion healing and cessation of pain in comparison with the control. Some commentators have noted methodological nuances; if the results of the n-docosanol trial are to be believed, an anti-inflammatory activity has more supporting evidence as a mechanism of action than the claim of antiviral activity.
Genetic deficiency of FALDH/FAO in patients with Sjögren-Larsson syndrome (SLS) results in accumulation of fatty aldehydes, fatty alcohols, and related lipids in cultured keratinocytes. These biochemical changes are associated with abnormalities in formation of lamellar bodies in the stratum granulosum and impaired delivery of their precursor membranes to the stratum corneum. This genetic disorder demonstrates the essential role that normal fatty alcohol metabolism plays in maintaining healthy skin barrier function. The corollary evidence supports the rationale for the topical use of fatty alcohols as emollients in skin care, though this is distinct from formal therapeutic claims.
The following doses are reported strictly as they appeared in published clinical research and should not be construed as recommendations:
Animal and human studies have demonstrated few adverse reactions from policosanol. Limited animal and human studies have found policosanol to be safe. In most of the published short- and long-term studies, adverse effects and tolerability were assessed, and policosanol consistently was found to be equal to or better than placebo. Furthermore, there have been no serious adverse clinical or biochemical effects reported in published studies. Withdrawal rates from policosanol therapy have been the same as placebo.
A large post-marketing surveillance study provided real-world safety data: a post-marketing surveillance study of 27,879 patients from the six major Cuban medical centers followed 17,225 patients for two years and 10,654 for four years. Most patients received policosanol 5 mg/d. The duration of therapy ranged from one month to four years, with a mean of 2.7 years. During the study, only 0.31% (86 participants) reported adverse effects felt to be related to the drug, and only 0.08% (22 participants) discontinued treatment because of adverse effects. The most frequently reported side effects were weight loss (0.08%), polyuria (0.07%), polyphagia (0.05%), insomnia (0.05%), headache (0.03%), and dizziness (0.02%).
Studies in rats and mice demonstrated no adverse effects on fertility, reproduction, teratogenesis, or development at doses equivalent to 1,500 times the normal human dose of 20 mg/day. Information regarding safety and efficacy in pregnancy and lactation is lacking.
Although policosanol appears to be well-tolerated, caution should be exercised when combining policosanol with antiplatelet or anticoagulant agents, including garlic, ginkgo, and high doses of vitamin E, as policosanol has been shown to inhibit platelet aggregation in both healthy and diseased patients.
Because of policosanol's potential effects on platelet aggregation, caution is warranted if it is used concurrently with anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin) or antiplatelet agents (e.g., aspirin, clopidogrel, prasugrel). However, a study in 11 healthy men receiving warfarin 25 mg before and after treatment with policosanol 10 mg twice daily for 2 weeks found no effect of policosanol on the pharmacokinetics of (S)- or (R)-warfarin. Policosanol also did not alter the response to warfarin on platelet aggregation.
Policosanol may be a blood thinner, and it appears to enhance the blood-thinning effects of aspirin, though one study failed to confirm this adverse effect. Still, policosanol should not be combined with aspirin or other blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin), heparin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), or pentoxifylline (Trental).
Experimental data indicate that potential drug–drug interactions between policosanol and drugs metabolized through the cytochrome P450 hepatic system are not expected, but pharmacodynamic interactions cannot be excluded.
Data from long-term studies in humans have revealed no clinically apparent problems resulting from the concomitant administration of policosanol with calcium antagonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, nitrates, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anxiolytics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, oral hypoglycemic drugs, digoxin, thyroid hormones, and anti-ulcer drugs.
Animal studies suggest policosanol may increase the hypotensive effects of beta-blockers and nitroprusside. Policosanol may increase both the effects and the side effects of levodopa.
Since the mechanism of action has not been clearly defined, policosanol should not be given concurrently with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors until further research can prove the safety of using both medications concurrently.
In clinical trials, headache occurred in 10.4% of people treated with docosanol cream and 10.7% of people treated with placebo. The most serious side effects, although rare, are allergic reactions.
The safety profile of fatty alcohols has generally been considered favorable, as many fatty alcohols — such as cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and oleyl alcohol — are naturally present in edible oils and have a long history of dietary exposure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed cetyl alcohol safe for use as both a direct and indirect food additive. The FDA has not reviewed policosanol for safety and effectiveness as a dietary supplement.
Different mixtures of higher aliphatic alcohols are on the market under the name "policosanol," claiming — without the support of independent data — the therapeutic efficacy and tolerability that former studies had demonstrated for the original policosanol. This is an important regulatory and consumer-safety caveat: studies on Cuban sugarcane-derived policosanol may not be applicable to beeswax- or wheat-germ-derived products marketed under the same name.
Health conditions that Fatty alcohol may help support.
Body systems that Fatty alcohol may help support.
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