Alternative Treatments for High Cholesterol

Dietary supplements are the mainstays of alternative treatment for high cholesterol . The following table shows alternative medicine therapies aimed at lowering cholesterol.

Alternative treatments for high cholesterol

Alternative treatment	What it is	Side effects	Support
Psyllium	Fiber found in outer coverings of fleawort and plantago seeds Ingredient in some dietary supplements (for example, Metamucil)	Increased bowel movements	FDA-approved and regulated as associated with decreased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD)
Red yeast rice supplements	A supplement with fermented rice and yeast Contains a natural form of lovastatin, a statin medicine	Serious side effects including rhabdomyolysis and hepatitis	May lower LDL levels Not FDA-approved or regulated
Sterol or stanol esters	Naturally occurring compound, found in plant extract Therapeutic ingredient in cholesterol-lowering margarine spreads	None, when taken as prescribed	FDA-approved

Psyllium: Doctors are not entirely sure how psyllium works to improve cholesterol levels. It is believed that psyllium reduces the ability of the small intestine to absorb cholesterol, and therefore the amount of cholesterol that enters your blood is reduced.

Red yeast rice supplements: The natural equivalent of lovastatin in red yeast, called monacolin K (mevinolin), decreases cholesterol levels by inhibiting cholesterol production in the body. Serious side effects can happen. These include rhabdomyolysis, hepatitis, and kidney problems. Despite the therapeutic effects of red yeast, there is currently no way to guarantee its safety by ensuring a safe dose.

Talk with your doctor before taking such supplements, because they could potentially cause dangerous side effects. Do not take these supplements if you are taking statins. Dangerous side effects may result from the combination.

Sterol esters: Sterol esters may lower LDL cholesterol levels by blocking receptors in the small intestine that are responsible for absorbing dietary cholesterol. Sterol and stanol esters are the active ingredient in cholesterol-lowering margarine spreads, such as Take Control and Benecol.

Regardless of whether you start a new alternative treatment, you must continue your diet, exercise, and prescription medicines. As with any new form of treatment, you should consult your doctor first.