CHOLESTEROL

CHROMIUM

1. Compared to placebo, doses of chromium (200 mg/day for 8 weeks) significantly increased HDL cholesterol and decreased triglyceride levels in normal adults. Glucose control was also improved.

Saudi Med J. 2000 Jan;21(1):45-50. 
Effect of chromium supplementation on glucose tolerance and lipid profile.
Bahijri SM.
PMID: 11533750

Animal study

2. Rabbits were fed a high cholesterol diet after which half the animals were injected daily with potassium chromate (0.02 mg) and the other animals were given water. Chromium significantly reduced the amount of atherosclerotic plaque caused by cholesterol in rabbits.

Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 Nov;33(11):2294-8. 
The effect of chromium on established atherosclerotic plaques in rabbits.
Abraham AS, Sonnenblick M, Eini M, Shemesh O, Batt AP.
PMID: 7435408

3. Doses of chromium (1 mg/day) decreased total plasma cholesterol after 4 months in addition to improving HbA1c values and lowering fasting glucose levels.

Diabetes. 1997 Nov;46(11):1786-91.  
Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables
in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Anderson RA, Cheng N, Bryden NA, Polansky MM, Cheng N, Chi J, Feng J.
PMID: 9356027

CHROMIUM AND GRAPE SEED EXTRACT

4. A combination of chromium polynicotinate (0.2 mg twice/day) and grape seed extract (100 mg twice/day) was more effective in lowering cholesterol LDL levels than chromium alone. Grape seed extract also decreased circulating autoantibodies to oxidized LDL.

J Med. 2000;31(5-6):227-46. 
Effects of niacin-bound chromium and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects: a pilot study.
Preuss HG, Wallerstedt D, Talpur N, Tutuncuoglu SO, Echard B, Myers A, Bui M, Bagchi D.
PMID: 11508317

Animal Study

5. The addition of chromium picolinate (1.6 mg/day) to the diet of broilers reduced abdominal fat content, LDL and glucose levels while increasing HDL.

Br Poult Sci. 1999 Jul;40(3):357-63. 
Performance, serum characteristics, carcase traits and lipid metabolism of broilers as affected by supplement of chromium picolinate.
Lien TF, Horng YM, Yang KH.
PMID: 10475633

FOLIC ACID

6. Compared to placebo, daily doses of folic acid (5 mg/day) for 4 weeks improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation reducing the risk of atherosclerosis due to elevated cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Circulation. 1999 Jul 27;100(4):335-8. 
Comment in:
    Circulation. 2000 Sep 12;102(11):E92.
Effects of oral folic acid supplementation on endothelial function in familial hypercholesterolemia. A randomized placebo-controlled trial.
Verhaar MC, Wever RM, Kastelein JJ, van Loon D, Milstien S, Koomans HA, Rabelink TJ.
PMID: 10421591

GREEN TEA

7. The consumption of green tea (10 cups/day) was associated with lowering total cholesterol levels in men and women.

Ann Epidemiol. 2002 Apr;12(3):157-65. 
Green tea consumption and serum lipids and lipoproteins in a population of healthy workers in Japan.
Tokunaga S, White IR, Frost C, Tanaka K, Kono S, Tokudome S, Akamatsu T, Moriyama T, Zakouji H.

MAGNESIUM
(1 gram = 1000 milligrams)

8. Doses of magnesium pidolate (4.5 grams/day for 1 month) significantly reduced cholesterol and LDL levels and increased HDL levels in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Magnes Res. 1994 Mar;7(1):43-7. 
Effects of oral magnesium supplementation on plasma lipid concentrations in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Corica F, Allegra A, Di Benedetto A, Giacobbe MS, Romano G, Cucinotta D, Buemi M, Ceruso D.

9. A diet high in magnesium (1142 +/- 225 mg/day) consumed for 10 weeks decreased total cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride levels compared to a diet lower in magnesium (438 +/- 118 mg/day). 

Magnes Trace Elem. 1990;9(5):255-64. 
Can dietary magnesium modulate lipoprotein metabolism?
Singh RB, Rastogi SS, Sharma VK, Saharia RB, Kulshretha SK.
PMID: 2130823

MILK THISTLE
Animal and Human Study

10. In humans, doses of silymarin (420 mg/day for 30 days) reduced biliary cholesterol levels. Doses of silymarin (100 mg per kilogram body weight for 7 days) significantly reduced biliary cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations in rats.

J Hepatol. 1991 May;12(3):290-5. 
Effect of Silibinin on biliary lipid composition. Experimental and clinical study.
Nassuato G, Iemmolo RM, Strazzabosco M, Lirussi F, Deana R, Francesconi MA, Muraca M, Passera D, Fragasso A, Orlando R, et al.

NARINGIN

Animal Study

11. Rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet with naringin (0.05% of diet for 8 weeks) showed
an increase in the concentration of plasma vitamin E and increased activity in hepatic SOD
and catalase.

Life Sci. 2001 Nov 2;69(24):2855-66. 
Antioxidative activity of naringin and lovastatin in high cholesterol-fed rabbits.
Jeon SM, Bok SH, Jang MK, Lee MK, Nam KT, Park YB, Rhee SJ, Choi MS.
Korea Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, KIST, Yusong, Taejon.

Animal Study

12. Doses of naringin (500 mg per kilogram/day for 8 weeks) decreased the area of
aortic fatty streak, had antiatherosclerotic effects and protected the liver enzymes in rabbits.

J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 2001 Dec;38(6):947-55. 
Naringin has an antiatherogenic effect with the inhibition of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
Choe SC, Kim HS, Jeong TS, Bok SH, Park YB.

PYCNOGENOL

13. Doses of pycnogenol (360 mg/day for 4 weeks) decreased serum cholesterol and LDL levels, in addition to improving symptoms in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (swelling, pain, cramps, redness) more effectively than chestnut seed extract (600 mg).

Phytother Res. 2002 Mar;16 Suppl 1:S1-5. 
Comparative study of Venostasin and Pycnogenol in chronic venous insufficiency.
Koch R.

VITAMIN B3/NIACIN
(1 gram = 1000 milligrams)

14. Doses of nicotinic acid (1.5 grams/twice/day) significantly decreased total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels and increased HDL levels. This treatment was more effective than the lipid lowering drug lovastatin.

Am J Kidney Dis. 1995 Apr;25(4):616-22. 
Effects of nicotinic acid and lovastatin in renal transplant patients: a prospective, randomized, open-labeled crossover trial.
Lal SM, Hewett JE, Petroski GF, Van Stone JC, Ross G Jr.
PMID: 7702060 ]

15. Doses of niacin (1.5 grams/day for 10 weeks) was more effective than the drug lovastatin in reducing lipoprotein levels and increasing HDL levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia. The degree to which niacin reduced LDL levels increased with each week of supplementation. Lovastatin also reduced LDL levels.

Arch Intern Med. 1994 Jul 25;154(14):1586-95. 
Comparative effects of lovastatin and niacin in primary hypercholesterolemia. A prospective trial.
Illingworth DR, Stein EA, Mitchel YB, Dujovne CA, Frost PH, Knopp RH, Tun P, Zupkis RV, Greguski RA.
PMID: 8031206 ]

16. Doses of niacin (3 grams/day for 9 weeks) increased HDL levels, and reduced triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels.

Am J Med. 1994 Jun 6;96(6A):64S-68S. 
Fluvastatin and niacin in hypercholesterolemia: a preliminary report on gender differences in efficacy.
Jacobson TA, Jokubaitis LA, Amorosa LF.
PMID: 8017469

17. Doses of niacin (1.5 grams/day) effectively increased HDL cholesterol and improved the HDL/LDL ratio. The drug lovastatin had similar effect on the HDL/LDL ratio as niacin.

Am J Cardiol. 1993 Apr 1;71(10):759-65. 
Evaluation of the effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy (bile acid sequestrants, niacin, psyllium and lovastatin) for treating hypercholesterolemia in veterans.
Schectman G, Hiatt J, Hartz A.
PMID: 8456750 ]

18. Doses of nicotinic acid (435 mg/day) increased HDL cholesterol levels. The addition of the drug bezafibrate also decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides and total/HDL cholesterol ratio to a greater degree than either nicotinic acid or bezafibrate alone.

Postgrad Med J. 1993 Apr;69(810):296-9. 
Raising HDL cholesterol with low-dose nicotinic acid and bezafibrate: preliminary experience.
Luria MH, Sapoznikov D.
PMID: 8321794 ]

19. Doses of nicotinic acid (3 grams/day) improved LDL levels in patients with familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 (FDB).

Metabolism. 1993 Feb;42(2):137-9. 
Hypolipidemic effects of nicotinic acid in patients with familial defective apolipoprotein B-100.
Schmidt EB, Illingworth DR, Bacon S, Russell SJ, Thatcher SR, Mahley RW,Weisgraber KH.
PMID: 8474308 ]

20. Doses of sustained-release niacin (1500 – 2000 mg/day for 8 weeks) significantly improved total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels compared to baseline and controls. Older subject had better results than younger subjects did on the same doses.

J Am Geriatr Soc. 1992 Jan;40(1):12-8. 
Treatment of hypercholesterolemia: comparison of younger versus older patients using wax-matrix sustained-release niacin.
Keenan JM, Bae CY, Fontaine PL, Wenz JB, Myers S, Huang ZQ, Ripsin C.
PMID: 1727841 ]

21. Doses of niacin (average 2.5 +/- 0.9 grams/day) effectively lower LDL levels and have positive effects on lipoprotein levels.

Am J Med. 1991 Sep;91(3):239-46. 
Niacin revisited: clinical observations on an important but underutilized drug.
Henkin Y, Oberman A, Hurst DC, Segrest JP.
PMID: 1892143 ]

22. Doses of sustained release niacin (1500 or 2000 mg/day) significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol levels and lowered HDL/total cholesterol ratio. This treatment also improved triglyceride and HDL levels.

Arch Intern Med. 1991 Jul;151(7):1424-32. 
Niacin revisited. A randomized, controlled trial of wax-matrix sustained-release niacin in hypercholesterolemia.
Keenan JM, Fontaine PL, Wenz JB, Myers S, Huang ZQ, Ripsin CM.
PMID: 2064495

23. A daily dose of nicotinic acid (4 grams/day for 6 weeks) significantly improved HDL levels in patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia.

J Intern Med. 1990 Aug;228(2):151-7. 
Effects of nicotinic acid on serum cholesterol concentrations of high density lipoprotein subfractions HDL2 and HDL3 in hyperlipoproteinaemia.
Wahlberg G, Walldius G, Olsson AG, Kirstein P.
PMID: 2394966 ]

24. Higher doses of niacin (1000 mg or more/day) were more effective than lower doses in reducing total cholesterol, and improving HDL and the cholesterol to HDL ratio.

Am J Cardiol. 1989 Oct 1;64(12):725-9. 
Effect of a modified, well-tolerated niacin regimen on serum total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and the cholesterol to high density lipoprotein ratio.
Alderman JD, Pasternak RC, Sacks FM, Smith HS, Monrad ES, Grossman W.
PMID: 2801522 ]

25. Low doses of long-acting niacin (1 gram/day) for 6.7 months reduced HDL by 31% and the cholesterol/HDL ratio by 27% compared to the control group.

Arch Intern Med. 1988 Nov;148(11):2493-5. 
Effect of low-dose niacin on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio.
Luria MH.
Department of Medicine, St. Luke's Hospital, Cleveland.
PMID: 3190381 ]

26. Doses of niacin (1 gram/day or more) reduced LDL levels and increased HDL levels. Niacin may also reverse the development of atherosclerosis and reduce risk of death from coronary artery disease.

Pharmacotherapy. 1988;8(5):287-94. 
Comment in:
    Pharmacotherapy. 1989;9(4):270-1.
Nicotinic acid: a review of its clinical use in the treatment of lipid disorders.
Figge HL, Figge J, Souney PF, Mutnick AH, Sacks F.
Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
PMID: 3075276 ]

27. A dose of nicotinic acid (3000 mg/day for 12 weeks) significantly reduced total cholesterol and total triglycerides and significantly increased HDL cholesterol and improved the HDL/LDL ratio. The drug clofibrate had less significant effect on the HDL and HDL/LDL ratio.

Atherosclerosis. 1984 May-Jun;51(2-3):251-9. 
Treatment of type III hyperlipoproteinemia with four different treatment regimens.
Hoogwerf BJ, Bantle JP, Kuba K, Frantz ID Jr, Hunninghake DB.
PMID: 6588975 ]

28. Combined daily doses of vitamin A, (60,000 IU) vitamin E (140 mg) and nicotinic acid (300 mg) for 30 days were slightly more effective than nicotinic acid alone (600 mg/day) in reducing total and LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. These treatments were without side effect.

Pharmatherapeutica. 1984;4(1):21-4. 
Effect of nicotinic acid associated with retinol and tocopherols on plasma lipids in hyperlipoproteinaemic patients.
Odetti P, Cheli V, Carta G, Maiello M, Viviani GL.
PMID: 6390462 ]

VITAMIN C

29. Doses of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FAs) (1000 mg/day for 10 weeks) decreased triglyceride levels, triglyceride/HDL levels. A daily dose of vitamin C (500 mg) may decrease total cholesterol.

Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2003 May;73(3):163-70.
Comparison of the effects of simultaneous administration of vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids on lipoproteins, apo A-I, apo B, and malondialdehyde in hyperlipidemic patients.
Shidfar F, Keshavarz A, Jallali M, Miri R, Eshraghian M.

Animal Study

30. Vitamin C intake (50 mg per kilogram diet) was associated with lower HDL levels and increased total cholesterol compared to guinea pigs receiving 500 mg per kilogram diet vitamin C. Therefore, low levels of vitamin C are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Metabolism. 1998 Jul;47(7):883-91.
Regulation of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins by vitamin C level and dietary fat saturation in guinea pigs.
Montano CE, Fernandez ML, McNamara DJ.

VITAMIN E/TOCOTRIENOL

31. Doses of a tocotrienol rich fraction (100 mg/day) rice bran in conjunction with the American Heart Association diet lowered total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B in hypercholesterol patients.

Atherosclerosis. 2002 Mar;161(1):199-207. 
Dose-dependent suppression of serum cholesterol by tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF25) of rice bran in hypercholesterolemic humans.
Qureshi AA, Sami SA, Salser WA, Khan FA.
PMID: 11882333

32. A mix of tocols (Palmvitee) which provided a daily dose of alpha-tocopherol, (40 mg) alpha-tocotrienol, (48 mg) gamma-tocotrienol (112 mg) and delta tocotrienol (60 mg) for 4 weeks decreased cholesterol by 10% in patients with hypercholesterol.

Lipids. 1995 Dec;30(12):1171-7. 
Response of hypercholesterolemic subjects to administration of tocotrienols.
Qureshi AA, Bradlow BA, Brace L, Manganello J, Peterson DM, Pearce BC, Wright JJ, Gapor A, Elson CE.
PMID: 8614309

33. Daily doses of gamma tocotrienol (palmvitee 200 mg/day for 4 weeks) decreased cholesterol, thromboxane, Apo B and LDL cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterol.

Am J Clin Nutr. 1991 Apr;53(4 Suppl):1021S-1026S. 
Lowering of serum cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic humans by tocotrienols (palmvitee).
Qureshi AA, Qureshi N, Wright JJ, Shen Z, Kramer G, Gapor A, Chong YH, DeWitt G, Ong A, Peterson DM, et al.
PMID: 2012010

34. Doses of vitamin E (400 & 800 IU) decrease circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), thus reducing the threat of atherosclerosis in patients with high cholesterol.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab.  2002 Jun;87(6):2940-5. 
Vitamin E supplementation reduces plasma vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and von Willebrand factor levels and increases nitric oxide concentrations in hypercholesterolemic patients.
Desideri G, Marinucci MC, Tomassoni G, Masci PG, Santucci A, Ferri C.
PMID: 12050277

Animal Study

35. Doses of vitamin E (50 IU/day) reduced LDL in hypercholesterolemic rabbits after 2 days of treatment. After 6 days of treatment, the blood and aortic cholesterol was lowered as well as endothelium-dependent relaxation

Atherosclerosis.  1998 Oct;140(2):333-9. 
Improvement in the endothelium-dependent relaxation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits treated with vitamin E.
Ribeiro Jorge PA, Neyra LC, Ozaki RM, de Almeida E.
PMID: 9862276

36. Doses of 1200 IU/day vitamin E were more effective than 400 IU/day in reducing LDL. LDL oxidation decreased with increasing doses of vitamin E.

Am J Cardiol.  1998 Jan 15;81(2):231-3. 
Effects of increasing doses of alpha-tocopherol in providing protection of low-density lipoprotein from oxidation.
Fuller CJ, Huet BA, Jialal I.
PMID: 9591910

Animal Study

37. Animals consuming vitamin E (1000 IU per kilogram food) were resistant to LDL-mediated endothelial dysfunction compared to animals consuming 10 IU vitamin E. Vitamin E enriches the vascular tissue.

J Clin Invest.  1996 Jul 15;98(2):386-94. 
Vascular incorporation of alpha-tocopherol prevents endothelial dysfunction due to oxidized LDL by inhibiting protein kinase C stimulation.
Keaney JF Jr, Guo Y, Cunningham D, Shwaery GT, Xu A, Vita JA.
PMID: 8755649

38. Daily doses of vitamin E (150, 225, 800 or 1200 IU for 21 days) increased the oxidation resistance of LDL cholesterol as the dosage increased.

J Lipid Res.  1991 Aug;32(8):1325-32. 
Effect of oral supplementation with D-alpha-tocopherol on the vitamin E content of human low density lipoproteins and resistance to oxidation.
Dieber-Rotheneder M, Puhl H, Waeg G, Striegl G, Esterbauer H.
Institute of Biochemistry, University of Graz, Austria.
PMID: 1770314

ZINC

Animal Study

39. Adequate intake of zinc (100 parts per million in diet) for 8 weeks protected rats from LDL oxidative damage compared to rats receiving zinc at 0.2 parts per million in diet. The deficient animals were susceptible to atherosclerosis.

Biol Trace Elem Res. 1991 Feb;28(2):135-46. 
Effect of an acute zinc depletion on rat lipoprotein distribution and peroxidation.
Faure P, Roussel AM, Richard MJ, Foulon T, Groslambert P, Hadjian A, Favier A.
PMID: 1709029

VITAMIN E/TOCOTRIENOL

Animal Study

40. Rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet were given vitamin E (60 mg per kilogram body weight) for 10 weeks which improved lipid levels and reduced lipid peroxidation.

Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2000;51 Suppl:S79-94. 
Vitamin E and factors affecting atherosclerosis in rabbits fed a cholesterol-rich diet.
Ismail NM, Abdul Ghafar N, Jaarin K, Khine JH, Top GM.
PMID: 11271860

41. Doses of vitamin E, (500 IU, 1000 IU or 1500 IU/day) all slowed the LDL oxidation rate. Doses of 500 IU and 1500 IU had the highest lag time before LDL oxidation with 500 IU/day being sufficient to reduce LDL oxidation.

Aust N Z J Med.  1996 Aug;26(4):496-503. 
What dose of vitamin E is required to reduce susceptibility of LDL to oxidation?
Simons LA, Von Konigsmark M, Balasubramaniam S.
PMID: 8873932