Answer:
A Chinese food supplement called Red Rice Yeast has been shown by reasonable scientific
studies to lower cholesterol as well as bad cardiovascular events by 15-30 percent.
Suggested dose is one to four of the 600 mg capsules at bedtime. It is available at
Costco, Walmart, Trader Joe's and many drugstore chains. I prescribe it to my patients
who are unable or unwilling to take prescription statins (Lipitor and the like). Since
it is like a “natural” statin, I still monitor the patient's blood tests
for the rare liver side effect, and to see how well it works on the bad (LDL) cholesterol
after about two months of use.
Omega-3 fatty acids are another supplement that can have a modest lowering effect on a blood lipid called triglycerides. But you'd need to take over 3,000 mg to get a significant reduction. Cutting down on dietary carbs and exercise are much more effective by comparison.
The medical literature does not show any evidence for garlic or its extracts to have any effect on cholesterol, contrary to some beliefs.
Caveat: Food supplements are not regulated by the FDA. So make sure you buy the most reputable brand you can find in order to avoid inconsistent dosages and contaminants.
Omega-3 fatty acids are another supplement that can have a modest lowering effect on a blood lipid called triglycerides. But you'd need to take over 3,000 mg to get a significant reduction. Cutting down on dietary carbs and exercise are much more effective by comparison.
The medical literature does not show any evidence for garlic or its extracts to have any effect on cholesterol, contrary to some beliefs.
Caveat: Food supplements are not regulated by the FDA. So make sure you buy the most reputable brand you can find in order to avoid inconsistent dosages and contaminants.