Cholesterol Supplements: What Works? Artichoke

If you’re looking for a natural way to lower your cholesterol—in addition to watching what you eat and exercising—there are plenty of dietary supplements on the market that claim to do the trick.

These claims aren't always backed up by research, however. Though not always perfect, scientific studies are the best way to determine if an alternative remedy really works.

Below, we break down what the research does—and doesn’t—say about the benefits of the most popular supplements for lowering cholesterol.

Artichoke leaf extract
What it is: The dried extract of the leaf of the artichoke plant (also known as Cynara scolymus).

The evidence: Very few quality studies on artichoke leaf extract and cholesterol exist, and the results have been mixed. In a rigorous 2000 study, people with total cholesterol in the high-risk range who took an artichoke supplement for six weeks lowered their low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or bad cholesterol) levels by 23%, on average. But a more recent trial of similar design found no measurable impact on either LDL or high-density lipoprotein (HDL, also known as good cholesterol).

The bottom line: More evidence is needed to confirm the effect of artichoke on cholesterol (or lack thereof). Don’t expect your LDL to plummet if you take artichoke supplements.

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20306863_2,00.html

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com

http://back2basicnutrition.com/