the present invention relates to a composition consisting essentially of at least 90 % policosanols obtained from rice bran wax , and wherein the policosanols comprise from about 25 - 35 % of octacosanol . the present composition is obtained from rice bran , preferably from refined rice bran or purified , food grade , rice bran wax . while the product can be produced using a variety of processes involving extraction from the rice bran , followed by various crystallization / recrystallization and / or distillation steps , the preferred process used to obtain the composition of the present invention involves saponification of the rice bran using aqueous base ( such as alkali metal hydroxide or alkaline earth metal hydroxide , preferably about 10 - 20 % by weight of alkaline earth metal hydroxide , such as ca ( oh ) 2 , based on total weight of rice bran ); extraction of the saponified mixture ( after water has been removed by heating ), using an alcohol solvent , such as ethanol , propanol , butanol , etc ; recrystallization of the extracted product to increase the concentration of octacosanol to the desired levels ; a first solvent removal step using heat to drive off the alcohol solvent ; a second solvent removal step involving redissolving the product from the first solvent removal step , then using a thin - film vaporizer to remove the solvent ; and molecular distillation of the material from the second solvent removing step , from 1 to 5 distillations as needed to reach the desired level of policosanols and octacosanol . the levels of the ingredients can be monitored during the process using conventional techniques such as chromatography ( liquid , high - pressure liquid , gas - liquid , etc ). alternatively , the product may be prepared by a process of supercritical co2 liquid extraction , followed by molecular distillation and crystallization . the process is performed with the number of recrystallizations and distillations being sufficient to concentrate the policosanols to a level of at least 90 %, more preferably at least 93 %, most preferably at least 95 % of the total composition , as well as to raise the level of octacosanol to the desired range . the concentration of policosanols can be readily monitored using a variety of conventional laboratory techniques , such as high - pressure liquid chromatography ( hplc ) or gas - liquid chromatography ( glc ). once the product is obtained , it can be transformed into a powder form , using any conventional powder formation process , such as spray powder formation . the composition of the present invention has a preferred component content , with respect to the five major aliphatic alcohols as follows : tetracosanol 0 . 5 to 15 % hexacosanol 5 to 35 % octacosanol 25 to 35 %, preferably from about 28 to about 32 %, more preferably about 30 % triacontanol 12 to 49 % dotriacontanol 2 to 17 %. within the context of the present invention , the term “ about ” indicates the experimental accuracy to which the content of a component can be determined using conventional liquid chromatography / hplc / glc techniques for the given component , preferably within 1 - 2 % of the stated value or range . the composition of the present invention can be administered in any suitable orally administrable form . suitable forms include powder , tablet , capsule , solutions , etc . the preparation of such administration forms is well known in the art and can also include conventional tableting auxiliaries or excipients . preferably the composition is administered in the form of a soft - gel capsule or hard - shell capsule . the dosage of the present composition can be administered once a day or in a multi - dose per day regimen . the total daily dosage is a dosage sufficient to lower total serum cholesterol . with the present composition , this is preferably from 10 - 20 mg / day for an average human adult . the dosage is preferably a single dose , which can be taken at any time of the day , but , if desired , can be divided into equal or unequal administrations during the day . if unequal dosages are used , the dosages should be adjusted to provide an approximately equal level of the composition &# 39 ; s active ingredients in the bloodstream throughout the day , with larger dosages being provided when the time between doses is higher and smaller dosages being provided when the time between doses is shorter . the level of reported side effects for policosanol products in general is very low , with side effects that are encountered being found to be dosage independent . the present inventors have found that administration of the present composition to adult humans gives a significantly greater reduction of total serum cholesterol and low - density lipids ( ldl ), compared to administration of the conventional policosanol products containing 50 - 60 % octacosanol , when both are administered at the same total dosage level of policosanols . this provides the present composition with the potential to provide not only cost savings on the ability to use rice bran wax compared to other types of starting materials , but also provides the ability to lower total dosage levels while maintaining the overall decrease in total serum cholesterol and ldl , relative to the dosages used of the conventional 50 - 60 % octacosanol products . the reduction of total cholesterol and ldl found using the present composition was very surprising , considering the conventional position that the primary hypocholesteremic agent in policosanols is octacosanol . thus , the previous efforts in the area have usually been to maximize the concentration of octacosanol relative to the other constituents in the policosanols product . the present composition , however , has cut the level of octacosanol roughly in half , but has resulted in a reduction in total serum cholesterol after an 8 week program of administration of approximately 40 % greater reduction than the reduction using a 60 % octacosanol containing product , with a reduction in ldl in the same study of approximately 66 % greater reduction than the reduction using the 60 % octacosanol containing product . having generally described this invention , a further understanding can be obtained by reference to certain specific examples which are provided herein for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified . a study was conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the present policosanols composition containing approximately 30 % octacosanol , compared to a conventional composition containing 60 % octacosanol , in controlling type ii hypercholesterolemia . the study included an 8 week open label study with 20 patients in each group . the two groups would receive either the present invention 95 % policosanols composition containing approximately 30 % octacosanol or a conventional 95 % policosanols composition containing approximately 60 % octacosanol . the patients were dosed at 10 mg / day with their composition , as a single dose . the subjects in each group had total cholesterol levels of 190 - 250 mg / dl . after the study , the subjects in both groups combined showed approximately 12 % reduction in total cholesterol , and approximately 27 % reduction in ldl . most surprisingly , the subjects that received the present policosanols composition having 30 % octacosanol showed a reduction in total cholesterol that was approximately 40 % greater reduction than the reduction seen using the 60 % octacosanol product , and a reduction in ldl that was approximately 66 % greater reduction than the reduction seen using the 60 % octacosanol product . obviously , additional modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings . it is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims , the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein .
a composition is provided containing at least 90 % of policosanols obtained from rice bran wax , wherein the policosanols contain from about 25 to about 35 % of octacosanol , and its use in providing significant improvements in total cholesterol and / or ldl reduction in subjects in need thereof .