Anchor Health's Policosanol Plex ingredients are:

• Policosanol
  Policosanol is a natural cholesterol lowering plant compound or phytochemical purified from rice bran.
  
  Studies on policosanol suggest that it can not only reduce cholesterol levels, but also prevent platelet clumpings and reduce artherosclerosis, two major risks for heart disease.
  
  In addition to lowering the LDL or "bad" cholesterol, policosanol was also found to increase the HDL or "good" cholesterol, thus making it a perfect natural alternative for maintaining a healthy cholesterol balance.
  
  Policosanol is so good that the American Heart Journal, which reviewed over 60 clinical trials on the compound involving more than 3,000 patients, said that policosanol is "a very promising phytochemical alternative to classic lipid-lowering agents such as statins."
  
  
• Vitamin E
  A powerful antioxidant, vitamin E can help protect against cardiovascular or heart disease by preventing the buildup of plaque in arteries.
  
  A clinical study showed that those patients with existing heart problems who took vitamin E had a 77% lower risk of developing a heart attack than those taking placebo.
  
  
• Niacin
  Niacin or vitamin B3 is a natural cholesterol-lowering compound. This vitamin can help you maintain a healthy cholesterol balance by lowering the levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol and increasing the levels of the HDL or "good" cholesterol.
  
  
• L-Arginine
  The amino acid arginine can help keep the body's muscle (including the heart muscle) healthy and working properly.
  
  
• Artichoke Leaf
  Besides its use as a food, artichoke also has many medicinal properties: its leaf is used to relieve digestive problems, liver ailments, and to increase the production of bile.
  
  The increased bile secretion can help the liver regulate its production of cholesterol. Indeed, artichoke leaf has been found by some studies to lower the cholesterol levels.
  
  
• Coenzyme Q10
  Dubbed "vitamin Q" for its essential role in many of the body's metabolic and chemical processes, coenzyme Q10 should be included in everyone's dietary supplement routine.
  
  For the heart, coenzyme Q10 can inhibit plaque buildup in the artery, enhance heart function, and reduce symptoms of heart ailments. In a study of more than 2,500 patients suffering from heart disease, those who took coenzyme Q10 were found to have less symptoms than those who took only placebo.
  
  
• Lecithin
  Lecithin is a fatty substance used by the body as components of cells. Indeed, lecithin (and its derivative choline) are major building blocks of the cell membrane and help transport nutrients in and out of the cells.
  
  
• Milk Thistle
  Milk thistle is a popular herb for liver ailments because of its ability to heal damaged liver cells and cleanse away toxins from the liver. Because it produces cholesterol, a healthy and functional liver is essential for maintaining a healthy balance of cholesterol.
  
  
• Ginger Root
  In addition to its popular use as a kitchen spice, ginger is also well known for its medicinal properties. For thousands of years, herbalists have used ginger to treat upset stomach, reduce inflammation, relieve nausea, and more.
  
  Ginger's anti-inflammation properties help the body's cardiovascular system to function properly.
  
  
• Bioperine
  Bioperine, a standardized extract of black pepper, can increase the absorption of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and herbal extracts.
  
  In addition to its ability to enhance absorption of nutrients, black pepper can also reduce stress on the heart, liver, and kidney due to a high fat diet.

Select Scientific References

• Varady KA, et al. Role of policosanol in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Nutr Rev 2003; 61(11):376-83.
• Janikula M. Policosanol: a new treatment for cardiovascular disease? Altern Med Rev 2002; 7(3):203-17.
• Gouni-Berthold I and Berthold HK. Policosanol: clinical pharmacology and therapeutic significance of a new lipid-lowering agent. Am Heart J 2002; 143(2):356-65.
• Pittler MH, et al. Artichoke leaf extract for treating hypercholesterolaemia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002; 3:CD003335.
• Grzanna R, et al. Ginger - an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory actions. J Med Food 2005; 8(2): 125-32.