Cause: Diet, genetic predisposition.

Useful Supplements: Beta-sitosterol, Calcium, Carnitine, Chromium, Folic Acid, Pantethine, Royal Jelly, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C.

Useful Herbs: Garlic, Guggul, Wild Yam.

Further information: Cholesterol is a blood lipid, a fatty substance that is found in all parts of the body. When the concentration of cholesterol in the blood is too high, many problems, including heart disease, can occur.
Cholesterol is needed by the body in some quantity. It is manufactured by the liver and responsible for functions such as the production of hormones, bile acid, and Vitamin D.
About one quarter of American adults have elevated cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is measured based on its concentration in the blood stream. A total cholesterol level of under 200 mg/dl is desired, as levels in this range are associated with the least risk of heart disease.
The most important lifestyle change to help lower cholesterol is to avoid foods that are high in saturated fats.¹ Avoiding most dairy products can also help.² Specific foods that may help lower cholesterol include yogurt³, fiber-rich foods,⁴ Garlic,⁵ soy products,⁶ olive oil,⁷ and Fish Oil.⁸
Foods that are especially dangerous for increasing cholesterol levels include alcohol,⁹ coffee,¹⁰ foods containing trans-fatty acids (including margarine).¹¹
Vegetarian¹² and vegan¹³ diets are associated with the lowest cholesterol levels.
Eating several small meals rather than two or three large meals daily appears to be connected with lower cholesterol levels.¹⁴
Exercise, even walking,¹⁵ can help lower cholesterol levels.¹⁶ Since high cholesterol and heart disease often occur together, it is important to talk to a health professional before beginning any exercise regimen.

The following supplements and herbs may be helpful in the treatment of high cholesterol:

Beta-sitosterol reduces blood cholesterol levels.¹⁷ It appears that Beta-sitosterol actually prevents the body’s absorption of cholesterol.¹⁸

Calcium binds fats and prevents their absorption by the body.¹⁹ Possibly as a result of this, Calcium also reduces cholesterol levels.²⁰

Carnitine reduces serum cholesterol²¹ while increasing HDL levels.²²

Chromium supplementation reduces LDL²³ and increases HDL²⁴ levels.

Pantethine appears to significantly lower cholesterol levels while increasing levels of HDL ("good cholesterol").²⁵

Royal Jelly can counteract some of the cholesterol-elevating effects of nicotine.²⁶ It also lowers general cholesterol levels.²⁷

Several B vitamins – B6, B12, and Folic Acid – decrease the rate at which LDL is oxidized (damaged).²⁸ They also appear to lower heart disease risk overall.

Vitamin B3 (niacin), when taken in high doses, lowers cholesterol.²⁹ However, since it can be toxic in high doses, many natural doctors suggest the use of Inositol hexaniacinate instead.
Vitamin C supplementation can cause cholesterol levels to drop.³⁰

Garlic has been widely studies for its cholesterol-lowering properties.³¹ Taken for four months, it can reduce cholesterol levels by about 10%.³²

Guggul has been found to reduce cholesterol levels by as much as 17%,³³ making it as effective as the prescription treatment clofibrate.³⁴

Wild Yam, taken in a dose of 2 to 3 ml several times daily, has been shown to increase HDL levels.³⁵

References:

¹Kromhout D, Menotti A, Bloemberg B, et al. Dietary saturated and trans fatty acids and cholesterol and 25-year mortality from coronary heart disease: the Seven Countries Study. Prev Med 1995;24:308–15.
²Ornish D, Brown SE, Scherwitz LW, et al. Can lifestyle changes reverse coronary heart disease? The Lifestyle Heart Trial. Lancet 1990;336:129–33.
³Hepner G, Fried R, St Jeor S, et al. Hypocholesterolemic effect of yogurt and milk. Am J Clin Nutr 1979;19–24.
⁴Rimm EB, Ascherio A, Giovannucci E, et al. Vegetable, fruit, and cereal fiber intake and risk of coronary heart disease among men. JAMA 1996;275:447–51.
⁵Warshafsky S, Kamer RS, Sivak SL. Effect of garlic on total serum cholesterol—a meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 1993;119:599–605.
⁶Anderson JW, Johnstone BM, Cook-Newell ME. Meta-analysis of the effects of soy protein intake on serum lipids. N Engl J Med 1995;3333:276–82.
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8Albert CM, Manson JE, O’Donnoell C, et al. Fish consumption and the risk of sudden death in the Physicians’ Health Study. Circulation 1996;94 (suppl 1):I-578 (asbtract #3382).
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¹⁰Nygird O, Refsum H, Velanb PM, et al. Coffee consumption and plasma total homocysteine: The hordaland homocysteine study. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;65:136–43
¹¹Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, et al. Intake of trans fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease among women. Lancet 1993;341:581–5.
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²⁵Miccoli R, Marchetti P, Sampietro T, et al. Effects of pantethine on lipids and apolipoproteins in hypercholesterolemic diabetic and non diabetic patients. Curr Ther Res 1984;36:545–9.
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