High blood cholesterol levels can contribute to plaque build-up in your arteries and impede blood flow to your heart, brain, kidneys and extremities.Certain supplements may help to lower high cholesterol levels; however, you should talk to a health care professional before attempting to self-medicate with supplements.
Cholesterol Basics
Clinical tests for high cholesterol usually measure the amount of total cholesterol levels, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, levels and high-density-lipoprotein, or HDL, levels in your blood. High total cholesterol levels, triglycerides and LDL levels increase your risk for developing heart disease. HDL cholesterol on the other hand, is considered a healthy type of cholesterol and may even reduce your risk for heart disease because it carries cholesterol away from your cells and into your liver, where it can be safely broken down and eliminated from your body.
Beta-Sitosterol
Beta-sitosterol is a plant sterol that is found naturally in foods such as vegetable oils, avocados, nuts, almonds and beans. The September 1976 edition of "Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift" journal, examined the effects of beta-sitosterol supplements on cholesterol, in a double-blind, 16 week study. At the end of the study, the patients taking the beta-sitosterol experienced a reduction in total cholesterol levels by 12.5 percent and a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels by 19.5 percent, without any adverse effects. According to "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database," subsequent studies regarding beta-sitosterol for the reduction of high cholesterol, have confirmed that beta-sitosterol effectively lowers total and LDL cholesterol levels without reducing the healthy HDL levels.
Beta Glucans
Beta glucans are a type of complex carbohydrate referred to as polysaccharides and they are found in the cells walls of bacteria, fungi and yeast. According to "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database," clinical research suggests that taking 7.5 g of beta glucans, twice daily, can significantly reduce total cholesterol concentrations by between 6 and 8 percent, after 7 to 8 weeks of treatment. Similar to beta-sitosterol, beta-glucans do not appear to alter the levels of HDL cholesterol.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is a good source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. The 1992 edition of "Verhandelingen - Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België" examined the effects of fish oil supplements on 58 subjects, over a 12-month period of time. Although fish oil does not appear to effect total, LDL or HDL levels, it produced a significant decrease in triglyceride levels. Several additional studies have confirmed that fish oil supplements help to decrease serum triglyceride levels by between 20 and 50 percent. For maximum effectiveness, "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database" recommends taking a 1 g fish oil capsule, which provides 465 mg of EPA and 375 mg of DHA, daily. However, as with all supplements, you should discuss using fish oil supplements with a health care professional before adding them to your diet.
References
- "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database"; Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2011
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A Balch, CNC, and James F. Balch, MD; 2003.
- "Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift"; Sitosterol in Familial Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II. A Randomized Double-Blind Cross-Over Study; Oster P et al; September 1976
- "Verhandelingen - Koninklijke Academie voor Geneeskunde van België"; Influence of Spplementation with N-3 Fatty Acids on Different Coronary Risk Factors in Men--A Placebo Controlled Study; Deslypere JP et al; 1992
