Hypercholesterolemia

Nutrients connected to Hypercholesterolemia

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• ButterDocumented risk

  Butter raises LDL cholesterol compared with most other fats and oils in trials.

• Fibre supplements (psyllium, methylcellulose, calcium polycarbophil and others)Clinically supported

  Psyllium lowered LDL cholesterol in pooled trials, including adults with mild to moderate high cholesterol. A lab-marker benefit; this is psyllium-specific.

• Artichoke leafPreliminary or mixed

  Meta-analysis reports lower cholesterol markers; the older Cochrane review found the evidence not yet convincing.

• GarlicPreliminary or mixed

  NCCIH says garlic supplements may reduce total and LDL cholesterol to a small extent in people with high cholesterol.

• BerberinePreliminary or mixed

  Small average drops in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in placebo-controlled trials; no heart outcomes shown.

• PsylliumClinically supported

  Pooled trials show lower LDL and total cholesterol; the EU says use as a diet aid needs medical supervision.

• CoconutDocumented risk

  Coconut oil raised LDL cholesterol compared with non-tropical vegetable oils; people with high cholesterol should ask their care team.

• Garlic powderPreliminary or mixed

  NCCIH says garlic supplements may reduce total and LDL cholesterol to a small extent in people with high cholesterol.

• Mycoprotein (Quorn)Preliminary or mixed

  In overweight adults with high cholesterol, 4 weeks of mycoprotein products in place of meat lowered total cholesterol about 5%. It is not a treatment.

• OatsClinically supported

  Oat beta-glucan lowers LDL cholesterol in trials; effect was larger with higher starting LDL. This is a blood marker.

• Oat BranClinically supported

  Oat beta-glucan (3 g or more a day) lowered LDL cholesterol in a meta-analysis of 28 trials; FDA and EFSA recognize the link. It is a diet measure, not a replacement for care.

• LentilsPreliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials of pulses lowered LDL cholesterol a little. One small lentil trial agreed. This is a diet effect on a blood measure, not a treatment.

• Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)Preliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials of pulses lowered LDL cholesterol a little. One small chickpea crossover trial agreed. This is a diet effect on a blood measure, not a treatment.

• Split PeasPreliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials of pulses lowered LDL cholesterol a little. A 6-week trial of yellow and green peas did not lower LDL significantly. This is a diet effect on a blood measure, not a treatment.

• Sunflower OilClinically supported

  Swapping saturated fat for unsaturated oils lowers LDL cholesterol; one trial in adults with moderately high cholesterol used mid-oleic sunflower oil.

• Safflower OilClinically supported

  Replacing saturated fat with unsaturated oils lowers LDL cholesterol; the evidence is for the swap, with few safflower-specific trials.

• Soybean & Vegetable OilPreliminary or mixed

  Swapping saturated fat for unsaturated vegetable oils lowers LDL; no soybean-oil-only trial was read.

• Corn OilClinically supported

  In adults with LDL at or above 130 mg/dL, corn oil in a controlled diet lowered LDL more than extra virgin olive oil in a short trial.

• Rice Bran OilClinically supported

  Trials in people with mildly raised cholesterol found LDL lowering; this does not replace medical care.

• Lard & Beef TallowPreliminary or mixed

  Saturated-fat-rich animal fats raise LDL more than many plant oils.

• Margarine & Plant-Oil SpreadsClinically supported

  Plant sterol and stanol spreads lowered LDL cholesterol in pooled trials.

• Krill oilPreliminary or mixed

  Pooled krill oil trials found lower LDL cholesterol, but they did not test long-term outcomes.

• HibiscusPreliminary or mixed

  Reviews report a small fall in LDL cholesterol; no trial of cardiovascular events was read.

• BarberryPreliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials found lower total and LDL cholesterol, but larger studies are needed and benefit for heart events is unknown.

• ArjunaPreliminary or mixed

  One 2001 trial found lower LDL; other studies found no change.

• FlaxseedPreliminary or mixed

  Small average drops in total and LDL cholesterol in a 62-trial meta-analysis; MSK calls results mixed.

• King tuber mushroomLab or animal research only

  Sterol and triterpene extracts lowered LDL cholesterol in mice and fat accumulation in zebrafish; no human trial was found, so it is not a treatment.

• CardamomPreliminary or mixed

  No significant change in LDL in two pooled analyses; total cholesterol result differs between them.

• ApplesPreliminary or mixed

  Small, mostly non-significant overall cholesterol falls in trials of apple products; larger in people with high starting levels.

• FlaxseedPreliminary or mixed

  Small pooled reductions in LDL; not a treatment.

• PlumsPreliminary or mixed

  Plum products lowered LDL in a 2024 meta-analysis; low to moderate certainty; not shown to treat high cholesterol.

• Coconut Oil and Fractionated Coconut OilDocumented risk

  Eating coconut oil raised LDL cholesterol in a 2020 meta-analysis; food route.

• Green TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Small cholesterol reductions in pooled trials of drink and extract; not a treatment.

• Black TeaPreliminary or mixed

  Black tea trials show LDL about 4.6 mg/dL lower on average; not a treatment, and a later review of short trials found no significant change.

• BarleyPreliminary or mixed

  Barley lowered LDL in small, older trials including people with high cholesterol; blood marker only.

• Whole Wheat & Wheat BerriesClinically supported

  Pooled trials of whole-grain diets found a small LDL drop (grain type not specific, oats strongest).

• Khorasan Wheat (Kamut)Preliminary or mixed

  One small crossover trial in heart patients saw lower total and LDL cholesterol; not enough to say it treats high cholesterol.

• Navy BeansPreliminary or mixed

  Whole pulses lowered LDL a little in pooled trials; this does not show they treat high cholesterol.

• White Beans (Cannellini & Great Northern)Preliminary or mixed

  Whole pulses lowered LDL a little in pooled trials; this does not show they treat high cholesterol.

• Lima BeansPreliminary or mixed

  Whole pulses lowered LDL a little in pooled trials; this does not show they treat high cholesterol.

• Mung BeansPreliminary or mixed

  Whole pulses lowered LDL a little in pooled trials; this does not show they treat high cholesterol.

• Adzuki BeansPreliminary or mixed

  Whole pulses lowered LDL a little in pooled trials; this does not show they treat high cholesterol.

• Soy Foods (Soybeans)Clinically supported

  Soy protein in place of other protein lowers LDL cholesterol slightly in pooled trials. It is not a treatment for high cholesterol.

• Edamame (Green Soybeans)Clinically supported

  Soy protein in place of other protein lowers LDL cholesterol slightly in pooled trials. It is not a treatment for high cholesterol.

• TofuClinically supported

  Soy protein in place of other protein lowers LDL cholesterol slightly in pooled trials. It is not a treatment for high cholesterol.

• Canned Beans (Drained, Rinsed)Clinically supported

  Diets with pulses lowered LDL cholesterol slightly in 26 pooled trials. It is not a treatment for high cholesterol.

• YogurtPreliminary or mixed

  Small trials of probiotic yogurt lowered LDL; overall fermented-dairy evidence called insufficient.

• Aged CheeseClinically supported

  Hard cheese raised LDL less than butter in trials, but people with high LDL are advised to watch saturated fat.

• CarobPreliminary or mixed

  Small trials of special carob fiber preparations lowered LDL in adults with high cholesterol. Not a treatment.

• Soy Flour & Textured Soy ProteinClinically supported

  Soy protein replacing other protein lowers LDL a little; it is not a treatment for high cholesterol.

• Baked BeansClinically supported

  Pulses lower LDL a little in pooled trials; not a treatment.

• Refried BeansClinically supported

  Pulses lower LDL a little in pooled trials; not a treatment.

• Cocoa ButterPreliminary or mixed

  Small trials give mixed LDL results for cocoa butter and stearic acid.

• Cocoa & Hot ChocolatePreliminary or mixed

  Small LDL reductions in short trials.

• Orange JuicePreliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials found a modest LDL fall with orange juice but no change in total cholesterol. Not a treatment.

• Tomato JuicePreliminary or mixed

  Tomato products modestly lowered LDL in pooled trials; not a treatment.

• Pomegranate JuicePreliminary or mixed

  Small changes in LDL and triglycerides; NCCIH says clear effects not demonstrated.

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