Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSupplements and HerbsModifying Risk FactorsAlternative MedicineFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Supplements and Herbs
Modifying Risk Factors
Alternative Medicine
Frequently Asked Questions
You may be able to take supplements to lower your cholesterol levels. Common ones include niacin, fiber, and artichoke leaf. These and other supplements have varying degrees of support from medical science.
When your levels oflow-densitylipoprotein(LDL)(“bad cholesterol”) are high, it increases your risk of heart disease and stroke.You’ll likely beprescribed medicineand told about lifestyle changes that can help, but you may want to take supplements, as well.
This article covers which herbs and supplements may help lower “bad” cholesterol and raise “good” cholesterol. It also discusses other ways toreduce high cholesteroland your heart disease risk.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Supplements for Lower Cholesterol
Researchers are still working to confirm the usefulness of supplements in treating high cholesterol. For this reason, it remains unclear who can benefit most from them.
In general, they’re considered safer for younger people with no history or risk factors for heart disease. Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen.
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Niacin, a form of vitamin B3 also callednicotinicacid, is used to lower cholesterol. It appears that niacin lowers bad cholesterol and triglycerides (another form of fat), while raising good cholesterol, also known ashigh-density lipoprotein (HDL).
Niacin also appears to significantly lower levels of lipoprotein A, another risk factor of atherosclerosis.
Niacin is available in prescription form and as an over-the-counter (OTC) dietary supplement. The American Heart Association says you should only use the prescription form of niacin for lowering cholesterol.
Side Effects
Niacin can increase the effect of high blood pressure medication. It also may cause:
It can also:
The most common side effects of high-dose niacin are:
Some research suggests high doses of niacin might help lower cholesterol when combined with drugs called statins. However, other studies have shown no clinical benefit and the possibility of some harm.
Because the science is inconclusive and it can cause side effects, you should only take niacin for high cholesterol under the close supervision of a healthcare provider.
Soluble Fiber
You can find soluble fiber in OTC dietary supplements such as:
It’s also in foods including:
How Fiber Helps Manage Diabetes
Plant Sterols and Stanols
Plant stanols and sterols, such asbeta-sitosterol, are naturally occurring substances found in certain plants. Stanols are also found as dietary supplements. Some are added to:
Research suggests plant stanols and sterols may help lower cholesterol. Their chemical structure is similar to cholesterol, so it may block cholesterol absorption.
In studies, people taking stanols or sterols with statin drugs had better results than people on statins alone.
The FDA allows companies marketingphytosterolsand sterols to make a claim on their labels that the product may work with a low-cholesterol and saturated-fat diet to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Suggested dosages are:
Artichoke Leaf
Artichokesalso contain a compound calledcynarin. It is believed to increase bile production in the liver and speed the flow of bile from the gallbladder. Both of these actions may help clear cholesterol from your body.
Other Supplements
Other supplements that have been suggested for cholesterol have less evidence of being useful, so more and better-quality evidence is needed. They include:
Modifying Risk Behaviors
High cholesterol is usually treated based on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol levels, plus the presence of additional risk factors for heart disease.
While some risk factors cannot be changed, others can. Heart attack risk factors may include:
Modifiable risk factors include not using tobacco, being active, eating a healthy diet, and losing excess weight. You can also take medications to keep high blood pressure and/or diabetes under control.
What Is a Lipid Panel?
Using Alternative Medicine
Before you decide to use alternative medicine for high cholesterol:
Remember alternative medicine hasn’t been tested for safety. Get medical advice before giving them to children or taking them while pregnant or nursing.
Discuss with your provider whether it’s safe for you based on your diagnoses and medications.
Summary
Among the supplements with some proven benefits are niacin, soluble fiber, and phytosterols. Others popularly promoted as “cholesterol-lowering”—such as artichoke leaf extract, garlic, coenzyme Q10, green tea, policosanol, and red yeast rice—lack the scientific evidence to support their use.
Speak with your doctor before using any herb or supplement to treat high cholesterol. In addition to managing your cholesterol with pills, make an effort toeat a healthier diet, exercise regularly, quit cigarettes, and lose weight if needed. Doing so can reduce your overall risk of heart disease.
Learn MoreDo All Fiber Supplements Lower Cholesterol Levels?
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13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ueda P, Gulayin P, Danaei G.Long-term moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure and risk of coronary heart disease.PLoS One. 2018;13(7):e0200017. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200017Chan DC, Barrett PHR, Watts GF.Recent explanatory trials of the mode of action of drug therapies on lipoprotein metabolism.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2016;27(6):550-556. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000348American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.NIASPAN- niacin tablet, film coated, extended release.Mani P, Rohatgi A.Niacin therapy, HDL cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease: is the HDL hypothesis defunct?Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2015;17(8):43. doi:10.1007/s11883-015-0521-xSurampudi P, Enkhmaa B, Anuurad E, Berglund L.Lipid lowering with soluble dietary fiber.Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016;18(12):75. doi:10.1007/s11883-016-0624-zGylling H, Simonen P.Phytosterols, phytostanols, and lipoprotein metabolism.Nutrients. 2015;7(9):7965-7977. doi:10.3390/nu7095374National Archives and Records Administration.Code of federal regulations. Title 21: food and drugs. Subpart E - specific requirements for health claims. § 101.83 Health claims: plant sterol/stanol esters and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, Mikhailidis DP, Atkin SL, Cicero AFG.Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018;58(15):2549-2556. doi:10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572Hunter PM, Hegele RA.Functional foods and dietary supplements for the management of dyslipidaemia.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2017;13(5):278-288. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2016.210Lambeau KV, McRorie JW.Fiber supplements and clinically proven health benefits.J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2017;29(4):216-223. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12447Párraga-Martínez I, López-Torres-Hidalgo JD, del Campo-del Campo JM, et al.Long-term effects of plant stanols on the lipid profile of patients with hypercholesterolemia. A randomized clinical trial.Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2015;68(8):665-671. doi:10.1016/j.rec.2014.07.035Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.Dietary supplements for cholesterol: are any worth a try?
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ueda P, Gulayin P, Danaei G.Long-term moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure and risk of coronary heart disease.PLoS One. 2018;13(7):e0200017. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200017Chan DC, Barrett PHR, Watts GF.Recent explanatory trials of the mode of action of drug therapies on lipoprotein metabolism.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2016;27(6):550-556. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000348American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.NIASPAN- niacin tablet, film coated, extended release.Mani P, Rohatgi A.Niacin therapy, HDL cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease: is the HDL hypothesis defunct?Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2015;17(8):43. doi:10.1007/s11883-015-0521-xSurampudi P, Enkhmaa B, Anuurad E, Berglund L.Lipid lowering with soluble dietary fiber.Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016;18(12):75. doi:10.1007/s11883-016-0624-zGylling H, Simonen P.Phytosterols, phytostanols, and lipoprotein metabolism.Nutrients. 2015;7(9):7965-7977. doi:10.3390/nu7095374National Archives and Records Administration.Code of federal regulations. Title 21: food and drugs. Subpart E - specific requirements for health claims. § 101.83 Health claims: plant sterol/stanol esters and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, Mikhailidis DP, Atkin SL, Cicero AFG.Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018;58(15):2549-2556. doi:10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572Hunter PM, Hegele RA.Functional foods and dietary supplements for the management of dyslipidaemia.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2017;13(5):278-288. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2016.210Lambeau KV, McRorie JW.Fiber supplements and clinically proven health benefits.J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2017;29(4):216-223. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12447Párraga-Martínez I, López-Torres-Hidalgo JD, del Campo-del Campo JM, et al.Long-term effects of plant stanols on the lipid profile of patients with hypercholesterolemia. A randomized clinical trial.Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2015;68(8):665-671. doi:10.1016/j.rec.2014.07.035Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.Dietary supplements for cholesterol: are any worth a try?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ueda P, Gulayin P, Danaei G.Long-term moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure and risk of coronary heart disease.PLoS One. 2018;13(7):e0200017. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200017Chan DC, Barrett PHR, Watts GF.Recent explanatory trials of the mode of action of drug therapies on lipoprotein metabolism.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2016;27(6):550-556. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000348American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.NIASPAN- niacin tablet, film coated, extended release.Mani P, Rohatgi A.Niacin therapy, HDL cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease: is the HDL hypothesis defunct?Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2015;17(8):43. doi:10.1007/s11883-015-0521-xSurampudi P, Enkhmaa B, Anuurad E, Berglund L.Lipid lowering with soluble dietary fiber.Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016;18(12):75. doi:10.1007/s11883-016-0624-zGylling H, Simonen P.Phytosterols, phytostanols, and lipoprotein metabolism.Nutrients. 2015;7(9):7965-7977. doi:10.3390/nu7095374National Archives and Records Administration.Code of federal regulations. Title 21: food and drugs. Subpart E - specific requirements for health claims. § 101.83 Health claims: plant sterol/stanol esters and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, Mikhailidis DP, Atkin SL, Cicero AFG.Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018;58(15):2549-2556. doi:10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572Hunter PM, Hegele RA.Functional foods and dietary supplements for the management of dyslipidaemia.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2017;13(5):278-288. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2016.210Lambeau KV, McRorie JW.Fiber supplements and clinically proven health benefits.J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2017;29(4):216-223. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12447Párraga-Martínez I, López-Torres-Hidalgo JD, del Campo-del Campo JM, et al.Long-term effects of plant stanols on the lipid profile of patients with hypercholesterolemia. A randomized clinical trial.Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2015;68(8):665-671. doi:10.1016/j.rec.2014.07.035Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.Dietary supplements for cholesterol: are any worth a try?
Ueda P, Gulayin P, Danaei G.Long-term moderately elevated LDL-cholesterol and blood pressure and risk of coronary heart disease.PLoS One. 2018;13(7):e0200017. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200017
Chan DC, Barrett PHR, Watts GF.Recent explanatory trials of the mode of action of drug therapies on lipoprotein metabolism.Curr Opin Lipidol. 2016;27(6):550-556. doi:10.1097/MOL.0000000000000348
American Heart Association.Cholesterol medications.
National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: DailyMed.NIASPAN- niacin tablet, film coated, extended release.
Mani P, Rohatgi A.Niacin therapy, HDL cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease: is the HDL hypothesis defunct?Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2015;17(8):43. doi:10.1007/s11883-015-0521-x
Surampudi P, Enkhmaa B, Anuurad E, Berglund L.Lipid lowering with soluble dietary fiber.Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2016;18(12):75. doi:10.1007/s11883-016-0624-z
Gylling H, Simonen P.Phytosterols, phytostanols, and lipoprotein metabolism.Nutrients. 2015;7(9):7965-7977. doi:10.3390/nu7095374
National Archives and Records Administration.Code of federal regulations. Title 21: food and drugs. Subpart E - specific requirements for health claims. § 101.83 Health claims: plant sterol/stanol esters and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, Mikhailidis DP, Atkin SL, Cicero AFG.Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018;58(15):2549-2556. doi:10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572
Hunter PM, Hegele RA.Functional foods and dietary supplements for the management of dyslipidaemia.Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2017;13(5):278-288. doi:10.1038/nrendo.2016.210
Lambeau KV, McRorie JW.Fiber supplements and clinically proven health benefits.J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2017;29(4):216-223. doi:10.1002/2327-6924.12447
Párraga-Martínez I, López-Torres-Hidalgo JD, del Campo-del Campo JM, et al.Long-term effects of plant stanols on the lipid profile of patients with hypercholesterolemia. A randomized clinical trial.Rev Esp Cardiol (Engl Ed). 2015;68(8):665-671. doi:10.1016/j.rec.2014.07.035
Harvard University Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing.Dietary supplements for cholesterol: are any worth a try?
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