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Published on: November 10, 2017
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Supplements for Lipid Lowering: What Does the Evidence Show?
1Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Current Cardiology Reports
|June 10, 2023
Summary
Dietary supplements show modest, inconsistent effects on lipid levels. Patients need education on supplement variability versus proven medications for cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dietary supplements (DSs) are widely used for cardiovascular health.
- Limited understanding of their regulation, mechanisms, and efficacy exists.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the regulation, proposed hypolipidemic mechanisms, and efficacy of common DSs for cardiovascular health.
- To compare DS efficacy with evidence-based lipid-lowering medications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of common dietary supplements marketed for cardiovascular health.
- Analysis of data on lipid-lowering effects and safety profiles.
Main Results:
- Modest, inconsistent lipid-lowering effects observed with probiotics, fibers, plant sterols, green tea, berberine, guggul, niacin, and garlic.
- Limited data for turmeric, hawthorn, and cinnamon; red yeast rice efficacy/safety varies with quality and monacolin K content.
- Soy proteins and omega-3s offer benefits when displacing animal products.
Conclusions:
- DSs demonstrate unpredictable results for lipid management.
- Patient education is crucial to differentiate DSs from evidence-based medications proven to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
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