health guides
High Cholesterol
Also indexed as:High Cholesterol, Dyslipidemia, Hypercholesterolaemia, Hyperlipidemia, Hypoalphalipoproteinaemia, Low HDL Cholesterol, Hyperlipidaemia, Hypoalphalipoproteinaemia, LDL Cholesterol Damage, HDL Cholesterol Damage
Take control of your cholesterol to lower your heart disease risk. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful.
- Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
- Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
- For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support.
Our proprietary “Star-Rating” system was developed to help you easily understand the amount of scientific support behind each supplement in relation to a specific health condition. While there is no way to predict whether a vitamin, mineral, or herb will successfully treat or prevent associated health conditions, our unique ratings tell you how well these supplements are understood by some in the medical community, and whether studies have found them to be effective for other people.
For over a decade, our team has combed through thousands of research articles published in reputable journals. To help you make educated decisions, and to better understand controversial or confusing supplements, our medical experts have digested the science into these three easy-to-follow ratings. We hope this provides you with a helpful resource to make informed decisions towards your health and well-being.
| Supplement | Amount | Why |
|---|---|---|
Artichoke | 500–1,000 mg daily |  [3 stars] Artichoke leaf extract has been found to lower total and LDL-cholesterol levels and may increase HDL-cholesterol levels. |
Berberine | 500 mg two to three times per day | [3 stars] Berberine, a compound found in herbs such as goldenseal, barberry, goldthread, and Oregon grape, has been found to lower total and LDL-cholesterol levels and raise HDL-cholesterol levels. |
Beta-Glucan | 3 grams or more daily | [3 stars] Beta-glucans are a type of soluble fiber that has been shown in multiple clinical trials to lower elevated total and LDL-cholesterol levels. |
Beta-Sitosterol | 2 to 3 grams daily | [3 stars] More than 50 years of research has shown consumption of sitostanol and beta-sitosterol, plant compounds known as phytosterols, lowers cholesterol levels. |
Chitosan | 1 to 3 grams daily | [3 stars] Chitosan is a fiber-like polysaccharide that has been shown to improve cholesterol levels in a number of clinical trials. |
Fenugreek | 10 to 30 grams two to three times per day | [3 stars] Fenugreek seed powder has been found to substantially lower blood levels of total and LDL-cholesterol. |
Garlic | 300 to 900 mg a day of garlic powder | [3 stars] Taking garlic can improve cholesterol levels and help prevent heart disease. |
Glucomannan | 3 grams daily | [3 stars] Glucomannan is a viscous, soluble dietary fiber that has been shown to improve metabolism and reduce LDL-cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol levels. |
Green Tea | green tea extract providing 107–856 mg of EGCG daily in smaller divided doses and with food | [3 stars] Green tea has been shown to lower total and LDL-cholesterol levels and improve cardiovascular health. Though uncommon, liver injury can occur with long-term use of green tea extract or EGCG. |
Pantothenic Acid | 300 mg pantethine taken two to four times per day | [3 stars] Pantethine, a byproduct of vitamin B5 metabolism, may help reduce the amount of cholesterol made by the body. |
Psyllium | 2 to 20 grams (about ½–4 teaspoons) per day with meals | [3 stars] Psyllium husk has been shown to be effective at lowering total and LDL-cholesterol levels. |
Red Yeast Rice | 600 to 1,200 mg with 2.5 to 5 mg of monacolin K twice daily | [3 stars] Red yeast rice contains a compound that is well known to inhibit production of cholesterol in the liver. |
Sitostanol | 2 to 3 grams daily | [3 stars] More than 50 years of research has shown consumption of sitostanol and beta-sitosterol, plant compounds known as phytosterols, lowers cholesterol levels. |
Soya | 25 grams soy protein per day | [3 stars] Soy supplementation has been shown to lower cholesterol. Soy contains isoflavones, which are believed to be soy’s main cholesterol-lowering ingredients. |
Berberine (Type 2 Diabetes) | 500 mg two to three times daily |  [2 stars] Berberine may improve blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity and decrease risks of cardiovascular and other complications in people with type 2 diabetes. |
Calcium | 500 to 1,000 mg daily | [2 stars] Some trials have shown that supplementing with calcium reduces cholesterol levels, and co-supplementing with vitamin D may add to this effect. |
Charcoal | 4 to 32 grams per day | [2 stars] Activated charcoal can bind to cholesterol and cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestine, preventing their absorption. |
Chondroitin Sulfate | 500 mg three times daily | [2 stars] Chondroitin sulfate appears to sequester cholesterol, lowering circulating cholesterol levels and reducing atherosclerosis. |
Chromium | up to 200 mcg daily | [2 stars] Some controlled trials have found chromium supplementation can reduce total cholesterol and increase HDL-cholesterol levels, especially in people with type 2 diabetes, but the effects are small. |
Cranberry | 500 mg three times per day after meals | [2 stars] Some, but not all, clinical trials show cranberry extract may improve cholesterol profiles. |
Creatine | 20 grams per day as a loading dose and 10 grams per day as an ongoing dose | [2 stars] Clinical trials examining the effect of creatine on cholesterol metabolism have yielded mixed results. |
Guggul | 500 to 2,000 mg three times per day | [2 stars] Findings regarding the ability of guggul extracts to lower cholesterol levels are mixed. |
HMB | 3 grams daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with HMB, or beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, has been reported to lower total and LDL-cholesterol levels. |
Krill Oil | 0.5 to 4 grams krill oil daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with krill oil is likely to help lower high triglyceride levels, but findings regarding its ability to improve cholesterol levels are mixed. |
L-Carnitine | 2 to 3 grams per day | [2 stars] L-carnitine has been found in some, but not all, clinical trials to reduce high cholesterol levels. |
Lecithin (Phosphatidyl Choline) | 500 mg per day | [2 stars] Taking lecithin supplements may be a useful way to lower cholesterol. |
Royal Jelly | 150 to 6,000 mg daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with royal jelly may improve cholesterol levels. |
Tocotrienols | 200 mg daily | [2 stars] Tocotrienols may increase HDL-cholesterol levels. |
Vitamin E | Refer to label instructions | [2 stars] It is unclear whether supplementing with vitamin E can improve cholesterol levels. |
Achillea species | 15 to 20 drops of tincture twice per day for six months |  [1 star] In one clinical trial, people who took a tincture of Achillea wilhelmsii had significant reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and an increase in HDL-cholesterol levels. |
Astaxanthin | 6 to 12 mg daily | [1 star] Astaxanthin has antioxidant and other properties that may help improve cholesterol metabolism and protect vascular health. |
Copper | 2 to 4 mg daily | [1 star] Copper deficiency has been linked to high cholesterol levels, but supplementation does not appear to have a cholesterol-lowering effect. |
Fo-Ti | Refer to label instructions | [1 star] Animal and laboratory research suggests the herb fo-ti may lower high cholesterol levels; however, this herb should be used with caution due to its unpredictable potential to cause liver damage. |
Inositol Hexaniacinate (Vitamin B3) | 400 to 500 mg of inositol hexaniacinate three to four times daily | [1 star] Inositol hexaniacinate, a special form of niacin, does not appear to improve cholesterol levels. |
Magnesium | 300 to 600 mg daily | [1 star] Magnesium supplementation can be beneficial in reducing cardiovascular risk but is unlikely to lower high cholesterol levels. |
Maitake | Refer to label instructions | [1 star] Maitake mushroom polysaccharides have been found to improve lipid levels in animal studies. |
Pine Bark Extract (Pycnogenol) | 50 to 450 mg per day | [1 star] Pycnogenol appears unlikely to impact cholesterol levels. |
Policosanol | Refer to label instructions | [1 star] An older body of evidence that has not been reproduced outside of Cuba suggests policosanol may have cholesterol-lowering effects. |
Sea Buckthorn | 0.75 ml sea buckthorn oil daily | [1 star] Sea buckthorn contains flavonoids and essential fatty acids that may reduce high cholesterol levels, but little supportive evidence exists. |
Selenium | 200 micrograms per day | [1 star] Selenium does not appear to have substantial cholesterol-lowering effects. |
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 1,500 to 3,000 mg daily under a doctor's supervision | [1 star] High amounts (several grams per day) of niacin, a form of vitamin B3, have been shown to raise HDL-cholesterol and lower LDL-cholesterol levels; however, niacin therapy has not been found to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events and has substantial toxicity. |
Vitamin C | 500 to 2,000 mg daily | [1 star] Vitamin C appears to protect LDL cholesterol from oxidative damage and may protect cardiovascular health, but has been found to have little impact on cholesterol levels. |
Wild Yam | Refer to label instructions | [1 star] Wild yam does not appear to impact lipid profiles. |
Copyright © 2024 TraceGains, Inc. All rights reserved.
Learn more about TraceGains, the company.
The information presented by TraceGains is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. Self-treatment is not recommended for life-threatening conditions that require medical treatment under a doctor's care. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2024.
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