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Cholesterol-lowering supplements may be helpful
Red yeast rice might be dangerous
Garlic might be ineffective
Medications might be necessary
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Red yeast rice — Natural doesn't mean safe
Dietary supplements may not be enough
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If you're worried about your cholesterol level and have started exercising and eating healthier foods, you might wonder if a dietary supplement could help. With your doctor's OK, here are some cholesterol-improving supplements to consider.
| Cholesterol-improving supplement | What it might do | Side effects and drug interactions |
|---|---|---|
| Berberine | May reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol and triglycerides | May cause diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea or vomiting; may cause harm to babies during pregnancy and breastfeeding |
| Fish oil | May reduce triglycerides | May cause a fishy aftertaste, bad breath, gas, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; may interact with some blood-thinning medications |
| Flaxseed, ground | May reduce LDL cholesterol | May cause gas, bloating or diarrhea; may interact with some blood-thinning medications |
| Garlic | May slightly reduce cholesterol but studies have been conflicting | May cause bad breath, body odor, nausea, vomiting and gas; may interact with some blood-thinning medications |
| Green tea or green tea extract | May lower LDL cholesterol | May cause nausea, vomiting, gas or diarrhea; may interact with blood-thinning medications |
| Niacin | May lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides; may improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol | May cause itching and flushing, which are more common at the higher doses usually needed to have an effect on cholesterol |
| Plant stanols and sterols | May reduce LDL cholesterol, particularly in people with a genetic condition that causes high cholesterol (familial hypercholesterolemia) | May cause diarrhea |
