Best Supplements for Cholesterol | Frequently Asked Questions

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is found in the blood.

It’s important to have some cholesterol in your blood, because it helps your body make hormones and Vitamin D.

But if you have high cholesterol, it can build up on the walls of your arteries and cause heart disease.

One way to lower your cholesterol is to take dietary supplements.

If you are looking for dietary supplements for lowering cholesterol, you are in luck. In this blog post, we will discuss the 5 best supplements for this purpose and how they can help you achieve your goals.

We will also cover the benefits of taking these supplements and how they can improve your overall health.

Please keep in mind supplements are lightly regulated by the FDA. Their stated claims have no guarantee. They aren’t cures or treatments for any diseases.

Food is your best source of nutrition, especially for cholesterol management!

Please check with your doctor before starting any supplement program and note we include items that we trust will be useful to our visitors. If you click one of the links on our site, we may get a commission.

Finally, we are not listing fish oil supplements here. While fish oil can be great for cholesterol management, we’ve already covered the best fish oil supplements in this article here!

So, if you are ready to start lowering your cholesterol levels, keep reading!

Best Cholesterol Lowering Supplements

1. Best for Clinical Research – NatureMade
2. Best to Block Cholesterol from Getting Absorbed – Pure Encapsulations
3. Best for Pure Garlic – Garlique
4. Best for Fiber – ProFibe
5. Best for Most Unique Active Ingredient – Life Extension

1 – Best for Clinical Research – NatureMade

• Price = $29.99
• # of Servings = 100
• Price per Serving = $0.29
• Product Reviews = 4.6/5 (2,824 reviews)
• Serving Size = 2 softgels
• Taste / Absorption = Unflavored
• Labeled Effect = Is a safe and effective part of a cholesterol management program
• Food Allergens = None
• Pros = Clinically proven to lower cholesterol, high quality and pure plant sterols
• Cons = only contains plant sterols no other vitamins, minerals or herbs

About Cholestoff Plus

According to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), a therapeutic diet containing 2000 milligrams of plant sterols and stanols can help lower cholesterol levels (see 2006 science paper).

If you’re searching for a cholesterol-lowering pill that has been clinically proven to work, CholestOff Plus made by NatureMade is a great choice.

Most people only consume 200 mg of plant sterols each day, 1800 mg short of the recommended amount.

The remaining 1800 mg of plant sterols are included in this product to fulfill the NCEP’s cholesterol-lowering requirements.

However this supplement only contains plant sterols – no other vitamins, herbs or minerals.

Made By NatureMade:

Founded in 1971 by Barry Pressman and Henry Burdick. According to ReviewMeta.com, NatureMade gets 4.3average adjusting rating 28,219 reviews.

• Start = 1971
• Revenue = $5 Million
• Employees = 25
• Mission = Our commitment to your good health lies at the core of every product.
• Third Party Certifications =  USP certified
• Third Party Reviews = 4.3 average adjusting rating 28,219 reviews

2 – Best to Block Cholesterol from Getting Absorbed – Pure Encapsulations

• Price = $44.40
• # of Servings = 90
• Price per Serving = $0.49
• Product Reviews = 4.7/5 (14 reviews)
• Serving Size = 2 capsules
• Taste / Absorption = Unflavored
• Labeled Effect = Support healthy cholesterol levels when combined with exercise and a low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables
• Food Allergens = None
• Pros = Contains phytosterols‚ which have been scientifically proven to promote heart health
• Cons = Contains only phytosterols

About CholestePure

This supplement includes phytosterols, which have been scientifically proven to protect against heart disease.

Phytosterols are plant-derived molecules that function as antioxidants, fight free radicals, and inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines.

CholestePure made by Pure Encapsulations therefore helps block cholesterol from being absorbed.

While it doesn’t specifically target reducing cholesterol levels, and only contains physosterols, this is still a great choice because of the scientific research.

Made By Pure Encapsulations:

Pure Encapsulations began in 2004. According to ReviewMeta.com, Pure Encapsulations has a 4.5/5 average rating from 12,280 reviews. Pure Encapsulations lists over 50 clinical studies going back to 2006 on their website.

• Start = 2004
• Revenue = $35 million
• Employees = 170
• Mission = it’s what’s inside that counts
• Third Party Certifications = Egg Free, Gluten Free, GMO Free, GMP, Certification Made in the USA, Peanut Free, Wheat Free, Hypoallergenic, NSF
• Third Party Reviews = 4.3/5 with 7,100 reviews

3 – Best for Pure Garlic – Garlique

• Price = $10.75
• # of Servings = 60
• Price per Serving = $0.17
• Product Reviews = 4.5/5 (153 reviews)
• Serving Size = 1 Caplet
• Taste / Absorption = Unflavored
• Labeled Effect = Support healthy heart & cholesterol level
• Food Allergens = Garlic
• Pros =  High quality, high potency, garlic blend, odor free, Amazon’s top choice for category “Garlic Herbal Supplements”
• Cons = Not as many reviews

About Garlique

Allicin, the potent chemical present in garlic, is included in clinically supported quantities.

Garlique also includes Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin B6, and Zinc to help maintain healthy cell function and immune health.

Plus, these are capsules so you get the garlic without the bad breath!

If you’re looking for a garlic supplement for cholesterol support this is a great choice.

Made By Garlique:

Garlique is made in the USA with high quality, pharmaceutical grade ingredients. According to Walmart.com, Garlique has 4.6/5 rating from 67 reviews.

• Revenue = $5 Million
• Employees = 25
• Mission = support a healthy cardiovascular system
• Third Party Certifications = GMPs
• Third Party Reviews = 4.8/5 with 94 reviews

4 – Best for Fiber – ProFibe

• Price = $19.99
• # of Servings = 44
• Price per Serving = $0.45
• Product Reviews = 4.5/5 (48 reviews)
• Serving Size = 10.4g scoop
• Taste / Absorption = Fruit punch flavor
• Labeled Effect = Clinically proven to help lower cholesterol
• Food Allergens = None
• Pros = Easy way to supplement your diet with fibers
• Cons = Easy to get fiber elsewhere

About ProFibe

One of the best ways to improve cholesterol levels is to eat more fiber.

While you can easily buy high fiber foods at the store, you may want to supplement with high fiber too.

If you’re looking to supplement with fiber to lower cholesterol, Profibe is a great choice.

All you do is mix into your favorite drink, or sprinkle on a dish. It’s flavor is fruit punch so enjoy!

Made By Profibe:

Profibe was originally developed by Dr. James Cerda, a specialist in gastroenterology and nutrition. According to ReviewMeta.com, Profibe gets a average adjusted rating of 4.5/5 with 65 verified reviews.

• Start = 112 years old, founded in 1910
• Revenue = $5 Million
• Employees = 25
• Mission = They had a unified commitment to affording people an all natural, fairly easy, and reasonably priced option to lowering LDL cholesterol and possibly regressing soft plaque in the arteries
• Third Party Certifications = Kosher Certified
• Third Party Reviews = 4.5/5 with 65 verified reviews

5 – Best for Most Unique Active Ingredient – Life Extension

• Price = $24.00
• # of Servings = 30
• Price per Serving = $0.80
• Product Reviews = 4.9/5 (33 reviews)
• Serving Size = 1 vegetarian capsule
• Taste / Absorption = Unflavored
• Labeled Effect = Helps maintain already-healthy total and LDL cholesterol levels
• Food Allergens = None
• Pros = Contains a novel probiotic, Lactobacillus reuteri, that has been shown, in clinical trials, to support healthy cholesterol levels
• Cons = No other vitamins, minerals or herbs

About Florassist Heart Health

Florassist Heart Health incorporates the probiotic strain Lactobacillus reutter to support optimal cholesterol levels.

Probiotics have been part of conventional diets for thousands of years and are required for optimal health, yet they are rarely used in cholesterol-lowering supplements.

Fortunately scientific research supports the claim Lactobacillus probiotic strain support healthy cholesterol (for example, see this 2017 study).

Made By Life Extension

Life Extension began in 1980 and is still going 40 years later. In 2021 ConsumerLab.com voted Life Extension as #1 Rated Catalog/Internet Merchant. According to ReviewMeta.com, Life Extension’s average adjusted rating of 4.1/5 from 24,224 verified reviews. 

• Start = 1980
• Revenue = $168 million
• Employees = 500
• Mission = Achieve your goals with the best nutritional products that science can offer
• Third Party Certifications = GMP, Non-GMO

What factors do we use to rank supplements?

1 – Price: What’s the price of the supplement? What’s the cost per serving?

• At Eating Enlightenment we value quality over price. However, all else being equal, then price comes into consideration. 

2 – Reviews: How many reviews for each product? What’s the average rating? How many third party reviews?

• We strongly believe in third party reviews. Many supplement companies list positive reviews on their website, but third party reviews include negative comments. We always go with third party reviews.

3 – Reputation: How reputable is the brand behind the supplement? How long has the brand been around? What’s their mission? 

• We believe that a company’s intention is highly important and should be one of your top purchasing decision factors.

4 – Taste / Absorption = What’s the taste? How quickly does your body absorb the supplement? Do reviews mention any negative side effects like an upset stomach?

5 – Perceived Therapeutic Effect = What beneficial effects or feelings does this supplement promote?

6 – Food Allergens = Does the company provide allergen info?

7 – Science / Certifications: Does the company list transparent scientific studies on their website? Do third party certifications test the company’s supplement for quality control? How many certifications does the company have?

8 – Pros/Cons: What are the pros and cons of each supplement? How is the supplement unique? For what situations is this supplement best?

Who benefits most from cholesterol supplements?

Some people are more likely to need a cholesterol supplement, including those who:

• have high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels
• have low HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels

Who may not benefit from cholesterol supplements?

If you have already-healthy cholesterol levels, you may not need a supplement. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “most people with healthy lifestyles and diets do not need to take a [cholesterol] supplement.” 

You may not need a cholesterol supplement if you:

• have already-healthy cholesterol levels
• have a healthy lifestyle and diet

Risks, side effects and other precautions?

You may want to speak with your doctor before taking any new supplement, especially if you have a medical condition or take medication. 

Side effects of cholesterol supplements are rare but can include:

• nausea
• diarrhea
• constipation
• bloating
• upset stomach
• headache

When should I take supplements to lower cholesterol?

The best time to take a cholesterol supplement is with a meal. This will help minimize any potential side effects like an upset stomach. 

Foods “bad” for cholesterol

Here’s a list of foods that are “bad” for your cholesterol levels:

• Fried foods
• Processed meats
• Sugary drinks and snacks
• Butter, lard, and shortening
• Egg yolks
• Excess alcohol consumption 

You should avoid or limit these foods if you have high cholesterol.

On the other hand, certain foods will help your cholesterol levels!

Foods “good” for cholesterol

Here’s a list of foods that are “good” for your cholesterol levels:

• Flaxseeds
• Chia seeds
• Beans
• Lentils
• Oats
• Barley
• Rye bran

These foods can help lower your low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels while also raising your HDL cholesterol levels.

Of course there are many more foods than the list above which can help with high cholesterol.

What you are looking for is “soluble fiber”. For more info on soluble fiber, read this 2010 science paper here.

How soon after taking cholesterol supplements will my levels get better?

This is a difficult question to answer as it varies from person to person. Some people may see results in a matter of weeks, while others may not see results for months. Much depends on your diet.

If you are unsure, we recommend speaking with your doctor. 

Next steps

If you are looking for a way to lower your cholesterol levels, supplements may be the answer.

There are many different supplements on the market, so it is important to do your research before purchasing one.

Make sure to read reviews and look for certifications from third-party organizations.

Speak with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Please know your doctor may recommend cholesterol lowering drugs, which can be a great option – but that’s not what we cover here!

Finally, if you are new to supplements read our ultimate beginner’s guide here. Or search our library of supplement reviews here.