Natural Cholesterol Medicine

Although statin drugs have been shown to control cholesterol levels, they may have undesirable effects on some patients. There are a number of natural ways to reduce total cholesterol, low-density cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides while raising high-density cholesterol (HDL).

Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice purportedly contains a natural statin. Taken as 1.2 g a day in divided doses, studies have shown meaningful reductions of total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides (32 percent) and an increase in HDL.

Policosanol

Policosanol comes from sugar cane. At 10 mg a day, studies found decreases of cholesterol (17.5 percent), LDL (31 percent) and an HDL increase of 31.5 percent.

Niacin

As nicotinic acid with doses between 1.5 to 3 g a day, this supplement may lower LDL by 5 to 25 percent, triglycerides by 20 to 50 percent and increase HDL from 15 to 35 percent.

Plant Sterols

Plant sterol extracts prevent cholesterol from being absorbed by the body. Taking 2 to 3 g a day, a study found "significant" reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and some HDL. There was no effect on triglycerides.

Fiber

Eating at least 20 g a day of soluble fiber should decrease total cholesterol by 12 percent. Adding 5 g a day of pectin fiber can add 7 percent to the cholesterol drop and decrease LDL by 10 percent.

Resources

• Cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red yeast rice supplement
• Effects of policosanol and lovastatin in patients
• Effect of plant sterols or stanols on lipid parameters