Octacosanol
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Octacosanol is the active ingredient in wheat germ oil. Octacosanol is a waxy substance naturally present in some plant oils and is the primary component of the sugar cane extract called policosanol.
Octacosanol containing wheat germ oil was investigated decades ago as an exercise performance promoting (ergogenic) agent. These preliminary studies found that octacosanol had promising effects on endurance, reaction time, and other measures of exercise capacity.
In another trial, 1,000 mcg per day of octacosanol for eight weeks was found to improve grip strength and visual reaction time, but it had no effect on chest strength, auditory reaction time, or endurance.
Octacosanol is a waxy substance found in vegetable oils and sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum). Another compound, called policosanol, contains a large amount of octacosanol, along with several similar compounds.
For exercise performance, 1mg per day of octacosanol has been used. When octacosanol is taken as part of policosanol, 5 to 10mg of policosanol is taken twice each day with meals.
No drug interactions are known at this time.
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