Cholesterol Busters

Fish oil supplements

The omega-3 fats in fish have a variety of potential cardiovascular benefits, but do not lower cholesterol. In fact, they may raise both LDL and HDL slightly.

WL rating: If you have heart disease or high triglycerides, talk to your doctor about omega-3 supplements, but don't take them to lower your cholesterol.

Garlic

Studies have yielded inconsistent results. There are many types of supplements, with different amounts of garlic components. A 2007 well-designed study at Stanford University found no benefit from two popular supplements or raw garlic. If there is an effect, it's probably small.

WL rating: Supplements are not recommended; eat garlic if you like it, but not to lower cholesterol.

Guggul extract (guggulipid)

Guggul is a gummy resin from a tree in India, where an extract called guggulipid is approved as a drug to lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Despite some positive research from India, two well-designed studies (from the U.S. and Norway) found no lowering of LDL, but did note frequent side effects, mostly gastrointestinal. It can interfere with certain drugs.

WL rating: Not recommended. Benefit and safety unproven.

Policosanol

Usually derived from sugar cane or beeswax, policosanol has been studied mostly in Cuba, where much of it is made. Though Cuban studies have found it improves cholesterol levels, independent studies from Germany and Italy found it ineffective. Potential side effects include gastrointestinal upset and rashes; it can affect blood-clotting medication. It's often combined with a laundry list of ingredients, making the effect especially unpredictable.

WL rating: Not recommended.

Artichoke leaf extract

Some early research suggested cholesterol-reducing effects, but a recent review by the Cochrane Collaboration concluded that the evidence isn’t convincing and that better research is needed.

WL rating: Not recommended.

And so on

Grape polyphenols, tea catechins, buckwheat, hawthorn fruit, and a variety of other plant compounds have been shown to have some cholesterol-lowering effects, mostly in animal or test-tube studies; the few human studies have been small, short, and/or poorly designed.

WL rating: Not recommended.