If you're worried about your cholesterol level and have started exercising and eating healthier foods, you might wonder if a dietary supplement could help. With your doctor's OK, here are some cholesterol-improving supplements to consider.
| Cholesterol-improving supplement | What it might do | Side effects and drug interactions |
|---|---|---|
| Berberine | May reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol and triglycerides | May cause diarrhea, constipation, gas, nausea or vomiting; may cause harm to babies during pregnancy and breastfeeding |
| Fish oil | May reduce triglycerides | May cause a fishy aftertaste, bad breath, gas, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; may interact with some blood-thinning medications |
| Flaxseed, ground | May reduce LDLcholesterol | May cause gas, bloating or diarrhea; may interact with some blood-thinning medications |
| Garlic | May slightly reduce cholesterol but studies have been conflicting | May cause bad breath, body odor, nausea, vomiting and gas; may interact with some blood-thinning medications |