Obesity is linked to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, both of which greatly increase the risk of having cardiovascular diseases. It leads to the build-up of fatty material in the blood vessel walls that are associated with several issues, including coronary artery disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm, or the development of a bubble-like swelling in the tissues of the large blood vessels, heart attack, and sometimes death.
As reported, a few dietary Cholesterol-Reducing Supplements play a pivotal part in reducing cholesterol levels, but research still needs to be conclusive. Using the studies in our post, we are going to offer a couple of supplements that are used for the better management of high cholesterol, the good types, the right dosages, and any sort of drug reactions, if any.
Can Supplements Lower Cholesterol?
Cholesterol in your body is transported through two major proteins—LDL and HDL. LDL is said to be ‘bad’ cholesterol, while HDL is considered ‘good’ cholesterol. LDL is said to be the ‘Lethal’ cholesterol because its high level is believed to contribute to heart diseases. In the same manner, while LDL is viewed as “bad cholesterol,” HDL is regarded as “good cholesterol” since it is beneficial to the heart.
For the improvement of cholesterol levels, a healthy diet and physical activity regimes are considered the best practices. Statins are a category of drugs that decrease the level of cholesterol in your blood. But what about supplements? There are just two pieces of work dealing with cholesterol-reducing supplements. While more clinical studies need to be conducted and general studies are still going on, some of the supplements were supported with the efficiency in reducing levels of cholesterol in the body. These supplements act by either reducing the levels of cholesterol in your body by inhibiting them from being absorbed into your body or by increasing the rates at which they are expelled in your stool.
8 Supplements for Lowering Cholesterol
The following 8 supplements have evidence from clinical studies to support their effect on cholesterol. However, it is important to bear in mind that any supplement for cholesterol “should be administered only after considering a patient’s diet, medications, laboratory results, and medical history.
1. Berberine
Berberine is a soluble in water compound commonly obtained from plants such as Oregon grape, tree turmeric, and goldenseal. It has cholesterol-lowering effects. Traditionally, berberine was used in Chinese medicine to treat infectious and gastrointestinal disorders. It is also used in present-day chemotherapy for cancer, diabetes, obesity, and psychiatric illness.
It is also said to have cholesterol-lowering capability. For instance, it facilitates cholesterol expulsion through the liver, decreases cholesterol absorption in the gut, and facilitates its expulsion whenever you defecate.
Based on research done in 2024, 97 patients who were diagnosed with mild hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol) received 300 milligrams of berberine capsules for three months. Finally, the triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower, and for the HDL cholesterol, a higher level was noted upon the completion of the three-month trial. This study conducted in 2016 proposed an intake of 300mg three times a day.
The side effects of berberine include diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea, and vomiting. Pregnant and lactating women should not take berberine. Also, it should not be administered together with the following drugs: anticoagulation therapy because, in this case, it enhances bleeding.
2. Fiber
Fibers like pectin, gums, mucilage, and fructans are found in fruits, especially citrus fruits, oats, barley, and vegetables, and can also be procured through tablets.
Scientists say that soluble fibers can decrease cholesterol levels in the blood. Soluble fibers swell in water to form what resembles a thick gel, which enhances the elimination of bile in the stools. This highly viscous gel also reduces the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Usually, bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol and recycled in the small intestines.
Psyllium is a soluble fiber product, and 10 grams of psyllium reduces LDL cholesterol in 8 weeks of median treatment. The National Lipid Association advises at least 5 to 10 grams of soluble fiber daily; it contributes to decreasing total and LDL cholesterol by 5 to 11.
3. Niacin
Phenolic antioxidants such as flaxseeds, niacin, or vitamin B3 are used to manage high cholesterol. The correct dosage can decrease overall cholesterol by roughly a quarter, reduce LDL cholesterol by between 10 and 15 percent, and reduce triglycerides by between 20 and 50 percent. It may also raise HDL by 15 percent to 35 percent. The dosage can be from 1000 to 3000 mg daily, but it depends on a man's general state.
Niacin can have unpleasant side effects, such as skin redness, itching, and gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. It may also interact with medication for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and Zinc.
4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are oils derived from fish, including vegetable oils. The body cannot synthesize them and must be obtained either through diet or by cholesterol-reducing supplements, more commonly known as “fish oil. ”
Through inhibiting the secretion of triglycerides in the body omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can prevent. Elevated levels of triglycerols cause coronary artery disease and heart disease and also is associated with stroke. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with diet and exercise reduce the triglyceride levels in the blood.
In a double-blind clinical trial of patients with chronic heart failure, supplementation with fish oil decreased the total mortality and cardiovascular hospitalization rates by a small but statistically significant amount. Another double-blind trial showed that supplementation enhances heart function and reduces the frequency of some patients’ hospitalizations.
5. Plant Sterols and Stanols
Phytosterols, or plant sterols and stanols, are plant compounds similar to cholesterol. They are present in margarine, vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds. They can also be found in food supplements, and they reduce cholesterol by inhibiting its assimilation by the body. A dosage of 1. 5 to 3 grams daily can reduce LDL cholesterol by 7. 5% to 12%.
These nutrient supplements should be taken together with the major meal of the day, which may be a heavy breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Most often, this is made possible when the supplements are taken with your meal or right after the meal.
6. Vitamin C
Thus, in addition to strengthening the immune system, vitamin C can also lower the levels of total cholesterol. Daily 500 mg vitamin C supplementations for a period of four to 24 weeks were recorded to reduce LDL cholesterol levels by 5%, triglycerides by 9%, and a mere improved figure on the HDL cholesterol in a 2008 meta-analysis.
The majority of the trials included doses of 500-1000 mg of vitamin C a day in the analysis. They noted that vitamin C has no side effects or toxicity; hence, it might be useful to add it to the treatment plan.
7. Flaxseed
Flaxseed is the only nonmarine vegetable source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). It is a type of omega-3 fatty acid that has cardiovascular health-improving attributes.
Several studies have demonstrated the role of flaxseed in blood cholesterol reduction, particularly LDL and total cholesterol. Supplementation with 30 g of flaxseed daily for three months of postmenopausal women with a history of hypercholesterolemia reduced total cholesterol to its normal level by 7% and LDL cholesterol to a normal level by 10%. In one study, where the subjects consumed 600mg of a supplement extracted from flaxseed for 8 weeks, their total cholesterol was decreased by 22 percent and their LDL cholesterol by 24 percent.
There’s no set amount, but 30g daily is a popular dosage in research studies that involve treating the condition. If possible, flaxseed oil or ground flaxseed should be chosen. In most cases and at therapeutic levels, flaxseed is found to be safe. However, there are some interactions with BP, estrogen, and anticoagulant medications. It is advisable to avoid taking flaxseed cholesterol-reducing supplements if you are pregnant or you are still breastfeeding your child.
8. Artichoke Leaf
Artichoke is a vegetable that obtained its origin from the countries in the Mediterranean region. The extract is commonly taken as a supplement, which comes in the form of capsules. Hypercholesterolemia is also claimed by some sources to be treated using artichoke leaf supplements. A large meta-analysis was done on nine controlled trials with 702 participants, and therefore, the outcome of the study reflected a decrease in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. However, undesirable effects, including flatulence, swelling, stomach upset, and, in some cases, allergy, are likely to be experienced.
What Are the Best Supplements to Lower Cholesterol?
From the list above, the following supplements for lowering cholesterol have the most available research:
Right from the list, we enlisted the following supplements that can help to reduce cholesterol that has the series of research as follows:
- Berberine
- Vitamin C
- Plant Stanols and Sterols
- Soluble Fiber
What Supplements Are Bad for Your Cholesterol?
The following cholesterol-reducing supplements are not good for the levels of cholesterol.
Steroids
Steroids are commonly referred to as substances that are used in enhancing muscles and powers when doing different activities. Steroids are said to be negative for cardiovascular disease. It increases LDL cholesterol levels by about 50% and reduces HDL cholesterol by about 90 percent based on a study in the International Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine. The good news, however, is that these cholesterol levels reduce if steroid’ use is stopped.
Retinoids
Topical and oral supplements contain retinoids. These are vitamin A derivatives in the management of acne, dermatological disorders of pigment, and skin wrinkling. According to the existing literature, retinoids increase triglycerides in about 30 to 44 percent and cholesterol in 31 percent of patients. However, the above effects are not to suggest that you should never take any retinoids at all; you should consult your doctor for the management of your cholesterol levels.
How to Choose a Supplement?
Before starting to use supplements, one should ensure that they are not causing any bodily damage. You need to consult with a doctor and a registered dietitian who specializes in heart diseases to discuss supplement use and evaluate the better risk-benefit ratio for safeguarding your heart's health. Furthermore, it would be best if you tried a few tips while selecting a supplement.
Always Read the Label
There are a couple of things to seek, including the active dosages, ingredients, reasons for using it, adverse effects, possible interactions with the drug, and allergen disclaimers. Try researching the different ingredients that you need help to identify. The data remains essential to understand exactly how the cholesterol-reducing supplements perform and contain for your better safety. As reported by the National Institute of Health, the following are a couple of questions you should ask your healthcare provider about the core ingredients as follows:
- What are the health-related benefits available for you?
- Would it pose any safety risk?
- What is the right type of dosage?
- How, when, and for how long should you consume it?
Ensure You’re Choosing from a Trusted Brand
You should consult with your healthcare provider regarding a couple of recommendations. As the FDA never plans to regulate supplements, look out for the seal of quality assurance from independent organizations. Such organizations render better quality testing, displaying the supplement consisting of just the labeled ingredients and never posing any possible risk.
Check the Brand’s Website to Verify Its Authenticity
Visit the brand's website to learn more about their manufacturing processes and measures to improve quality. Authentic brands render well-detailed information related to their products while offering better customer testimonials and reviews that support the claims.
Check the Expiration Date
Try ensuring that the supplement that you buy has a transparent and clear date of expiration; however, it should never be close to expiration. Supplements often lose their potency over time; therefore, it is essential to use the right products that are under the shelf life for greater effectiveness.
Conclusion
To summarize, it is the best idea to keep in mind that cholesterol-reducing supplements are not replacing the medications that are prescribed to you or substituting to get the right medical care from any healthcare professional. Furthermore, a rich, well-balanced diet of fish, veggies, fruits, lean meat, legumes, and nuts, along with regular physical exercises, would aid in the management of risk for health-related issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Vitamin Supplement to Lower Cholesterol?
Vitamins C, D, and niacin or B3 can help reduce cholesterol levels. Probiotics, berberine, and red yeast rice are other potential Cholesterol-Reducing Supplements.
What Is an All-Powerful Herb That Lowers Cholesterol?
There are different herbal products. Numerous studies indicated that fenugreek leaves and seeds, yarrow, artichoke leaf extraction, and holy basil can help reduce cholesterol.
What Removes Cholesterol Fast?
Fibre can help reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed into the bloodstream from the digestive system, which is considered the intestine.
Does Hot Water Reduce Cholesterol?
As already understood the higher levels of cholesterol happened due to the accumulation of bad fat into the blood vessels while consuming hot water becomes the potential solution to this issue.
