supplements and Cholesterol

Q: Can any health supplements help lower cholesterol?

A: There are several nonprescription supplements that have been shown to lower cholesterol. (As with any other medication, let your health care provider know you are taking these products.) The most widely available supplements are the stanol and sterol esters. They are marketed as food additives in margarine, orange juice, granola bars, and a growing number of other foods. They also are sold as single-ingredient gel caps in health food stores. People who consume approximately 2 grams/day can lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by up to 15 percent.

Both niacin (nicotinic acid) and red yeast rice (an extract from yeast grown on rice, containing the same substance as the prescription drug Mevacor) lower cholesterol and are available in health food stores in lower doses than those available by prescription. They have the same potential side effects and need for monitoring as their prescription counterparts.

Get our free guide to lowering your cholesterol.

Sharonne Hayes, M.D., is associate professor of medicine and cardiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota.