Cholesterol Management Supplements

What are cholesterol management supplements?

To understand cholesterol management supplements, it’s important to understand cholesterol first. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance (known as a sterol, a type of lipid or fat) made in the liver and found in the blood and every cell in your body. Maintaining healthy levels of cholesterol is essential for keeping your heart in its best shape.

There are two main types of cholesterol: LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, aka “bad” cholesterol), which makes up most of your body’s cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, aka “good” cholesterol), which absorbs cholesterol in the blood and sends it to the liver to flush it from the body. Together, these make up total cholesterol, which is exactly what it sounds like—the total amount of cholesterol in your blood.

Other important terms include triglycerides, a type of fat in your blood stored from your diet that your body uses for energy, and non-HDL, a number you get by subtracting your HDL levels from your total cholesterol.

While cholesterol on its own isn’t inherently “good” or “bad,” keeping an eye on your levels and maintaining an optimal balance of HDL and LDL is one of the best ways to support optimal heart health. That’s where cholesterol management supplements come in.

Best supplements for cholesterol management

Supporting your healthy cholesterol levels with supplements is a great way to round out your wellness routine. And there are several compelling options. The combination of artichoke extract and pantethine (aka vitamin B5) is formulated to help keep your total cholesterol levels in a normal range while preserving heart-healthy CoQ10 levels—key to maintaining optimal cardiovascular health. Another B vitamin, niacin (vitamin B3), is a great standalone formula option for keeping your healthy cholesterol levels right where you want them.

Other supplements to consider for supporting your healthy cholesterol levels include powerhouses like probiotics, CoQ10 (ubiquinol or ubiquinone) and omega-3 fish oil. Probiotic strains, like Lactobacillus reuteri 30242, go beyond the gut to specifically promote healthy cholesterol levels and heart health, while CoQ10 helps keep your levels right where you want them by supporting your heart at the cellular level. And fatty acids from fish oil help maintain already-healthy HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels.

Is niacin (vitamin B3) good for cholesterol management?

Niacin, more commonly known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps metabolize the foods you eat, promotes cellular energy production, and even supports the healthy metabolism of glucose, fat and even alcohol. But did you know it does even more?

Niacin is one of the most well-studied nutrients for supporting healthy cholesterol levels—with its benefits being identified in the 1950s. It helps maintain healthy blood lipid levels—key to your healthy cholesterol staying right where it should be.

Does tea help with cholesterol management?

Yes, depending on which type of tea you choose. If you’re trying to maintain healthy blood lipid levels, you might want to swap your green tea for black tea. Why? It contains theaflavins, health-promoting flavonoids found in black tea, that help inhibit oxidative stress and promote arterial health—essential for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

For a more comprehensive option, the combination of theaflavins and Indian gooseberry extract can help maintain healthy levels of the three key blood lipids—LDL, HDL and triglycerides—and even C-reactive protein. If you’re not a tea drinker, or just want to ensure you’re getting an efficacious dose of tea, choose a supplement that contains theaflavins and other heart-healthy nutrients.