Octacosanol

What is Octacosanol?

Octacosanol is a widely distributed natural higher aliphatic alcohol that can be isolated and purified from rice bran, sugarcane, beeswax, etc. Octacosanol exerts various biological effects, including anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia, antioxidant,etc.

Main effects of octacosanol

Improve athletic ability and resist fatigue

This is one of the most concerned effects of octacosanol:

Enhance endurance and explosive power: Studies have shown that octacosanol can improve the efficiency of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the core substance of energy metabolism) in muscles, reduce lactic acid accumulation during exercise, thereby prolonging exercise endurance and improving muscle explosive power, especially suitable for athletes or fitness people.
Relieve fatigue after exercise: It can accelerate the recovery of the body after exercise and reduce muscle soreness, which may be related to regulating neuromuscular conduction and improving energy metabolism.

Regulate blood lipids and protect cardiovascular system

Lipid-lowering effect: octacosanol can inhibit the intestinal absorption of cholesterol and promote the metabolism and excretion of cholesterol in the liver, thereby reducing the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, “bad cholesterol”) in the blood, while having no negative impact on high-density lipoprotein (HDL, “good cholesterol”), which helps prevent atherosclerosis.
Assist in regulating blood pressure: Some studies have shown that it may play a role in mildly regulating blood pressure by improving endothelial function and inhibiting vasoconstriction factors.

Neuroprotection and cognitive improvement

Octacosanol can pass through the blood-brain barrier and may improve the energy supply of nerve cells by regulating the release of neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine), which has a certain auxiliary effect on improving attention and memory.
Animal experiments have shown that it may have a potential protective effect on neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s disease), but human research still needs to be deepened.

Other potential effects

Anti-inflammatory and immune regulation: In vitro studies have found that octacosanol can inhibit the release of inflammatory factors, which may help alleviate chronic inflammatory reactions. At the same time, it has a certain regulatory effect on the activity of immune cells and enhances the body’s resistance.
Improving reproductive function: In animal experiments, octacosanol was found to improve sperm motility and quantity, which has potential benefits for male reproductive health, but there is limited evidence for human application.
Antioxidant: Although its antioxidant capacity is weaker than that of classic antioxidants such as vitamin C, it can still scavenge some free radicals and reduce oxidative damage.