Cholesterol-lowering supplement | What it does | Side effects and drug interactions |
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Artichoke extract | May reduce total cholesterol and LDL, or "bad," cholesterol | May cause gas or an allergic reaction |
Barley | May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol | None |
Beta-sitosterol (found in oral supplements and some margarines, such as Promise Activ) | May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol | May cause nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea or constipation
May be ineffective if you take ezetimibe (Zetia), a prescription cholesterol medication
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Blond psyllium (found in seed husk and products such as Metamucil) | May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol | May cause gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation or nausea |
Fish oil (found as a liquid oil and in oil-filled capsules) | May reduce triglycerides | May cause a fishy aftertaste, bad breath, gas, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
May interact with some blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
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Flaxseed, ground | May reduce triglycerides | May cause, gas, bloating or diarrhea
May interact with some blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix) and warfarin (Coumadin)
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Garlic extract | May reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides | May cause bad breath, body odor, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
May interact with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
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Green tea extract | May lower LDL cholesterol | May cause nausea, vomiting, gas or diarrhea
May interact with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
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Oat bran (found in oatmeal and whole oats) | May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol | May cause gas or bloating |
Sitostanol (found in oral supplements and some margarines, such as Benecol) | May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol | May cause diarrhea |