Have any supplements been studied for high cholesterol?

    Researchedby:
    Mike Murray

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo, James Gaylor
    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    The supplement with the largest effect on LDL-C is red yeast rice, which is an inhibitor of endogenous cholesterol synthesis and works via the same mechanism of action as statins.[1] Other supplements that can improve LDL-C are garlic,[2] plant sterols and stanols,[3] and beta-glucan (a soluble fiber primarily found in oats and barley).[4]

    References

    1. ^Arrigo F G Cicero, Federica Fogacci, Alberto ZambonRed Yeast Rice for Hypercholesterolemia: JACC Focus SeminarJ Am Coll Cardiol.(2021 Feb 9)
    2. ^Yue-E Sun, Weidong Wang, Jie QinAnti-hyperlipidemia of garlic by reducing the level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein: A meta-analysisMedicine (Baltimore).(2018 May)
    3. ^Rouyanne T Ras, Johanna M Geleijnse, Elke A TrautweinLDL-cholesterol-lowering effect of plant sterols and stanols across different dose ranges: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled studiesBr J Nutr.(2014 Jul 28)
    4. ^Anne Whitehead, Eleanor J Beck, Susan Tosh, Thomas M S WoleverCholesterol-lowering effects of oat β-glucan: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsAm J Clin Nutr.(2014 Dec)