Articles
Cholesterol-lowering supplements may be helpful
Red yeast rice might be dangerous
Garlic might be ineffective
Medications might be necessary
Red yeast rice — Natural doesn't mean safe
Content
Red yeast rice — Natural doesn't mean safe
Dietary supplements may not be enough
Garlic might be ineffective
Medications might be necessary
Red yeast rice — Natural doesn't mean safe
Content
Red yeast rice — Natural doesn't mean safe
Dietary supplements may not be enough
Content
By Mayo Clinic Staff
If you've started to exercise and eat healthier foods to lower your cholesterol, you might wonder if a dietary supplement can help. Here are some cholesterol-lowering supplements to think about. Check with your healthcare professional before you try any.
| Cholesterol-lowering supplement | What it might do | Side effects and how it affects other medicines |
|---|---|---|
| Berberine | May lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides | May cause loose stools trouble passing stool, gas, stomach upset or vomiting; may cause harm to babies during pregnancy and breastfeeding |
| Fish oil | May lower triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood that raises the risk of heart disease | May cause a fishy aftertaste, bad breath, gas, upset stomach, vomiting or loose stools; may affect some blood-thinning medicines |
| Flaxseed, ground | May lower LDL cholesterol | May cause gas, bloating or loose stool; may affect some blood-thinning medicines |
| Garlic | May slightly lower cholesterol, but studies have had mixed results | May cause bad breath, body odor, upset stomach, vomiting and gas; may affect some blood-thinning medicines |
| Green tea or green tea extract | May lower LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol | May cause upset stomach, vomiting, gas or loose stool; may affect blood-thinning medicines |
| Niacin | May lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides; may improve high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol | May cause itching and flushing, which are more common at the higher doses most often needed to affect cholesterol |
| Plant stanols and sterols | May lower LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides | May cause loose stool |
