Cholesterol is a waxy lipid found in the bloodstream and all cells in the body. It is necessary for hormone production and fighting infections. While excess LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, increases the risk of heart disease, HDL, or good cholesterol, protects the heart by moving bad cholesterol from the blood to the liver for excretion out of the body. Research indicates that certain supplements can improve HDL cholesterol levels. Consult your health care provider before taking any supplements.
Anthocyanin Extract
Anthocyanins, which are the antioxidants found in berries, might increase HDL cholesterol levels. Researchers from Sun Yat-Sen University investigated the impact of an anthocyanin supplement on subjects with abnormal blood lipid levels. Participants were assigned a daily dose of anthocyanins or a placebo for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, subjects consuming the anthocyanin supplement experienced increases in HDL cholesterol compared to the placebo group, according to findings reported in the June 2009 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
Resveratrol Extract
Researchers from Kyungpook National University in Korea examined the effect of resveratrol, the main polyphenol found in wine, grapes and raspberries, on cholesterol synthesis in mice. Subjects followed a normal diet with or without resveratrol supplementation. Scientists observed that mice adhering to a normal diet with resveratrol lowered their LDL cholesterol and increased their HDL cholesterol compared to those following the same diet without resveratrol supplementation, according to research reported in the September 2008 issue of the "Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications."
Fish Oil
Researcher Dennis Nilsen from the Department of Medicine, the Division of Cardiology, the Central Hospital in Norway led a team of scientists who studied the impact of omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, on lipid levels after a heart attack. Patients consumed 4g of omega-3 fatty acids or corn oil for six weeks. At the end of the study, scientists found that the omega-3 fatty acid group experienced an increase in HDL cholesterol compared to the corn oil group, according to research published in the July 2001 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition."
References
- Nutra Ingredients: Anthocyanins linked to improved cholesterol levels
- PubMed.gov: Long-term effects of resveratrol supplementation on suppression of atherogenic lesion formation and cholesterol synthesis in apo E-deficient mice
- American Journal of Nutrition: Effects of a high-dose concentrate of n-3 fatty acids or corn oil introduced early after an acute myocardial infarction on serum triacylglycerol and HDL cholesterol
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