Topic

Cholesterol and blood fats

The blood-fat panel — LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides.

This page is not a ranking. Ingredients appear in order of how much we have read here.

The 7 things measured here · ingredients read against each

Read here so far: 70 questions across 24 ingredients

Psyllium

Psyllium and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Psyllium and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Psyllium and Total cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Psyllium and Apolipoprotein BOne source, measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Psyllium and Non-HDL CholesterolOne source, measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Psyllium and TriglyceridesOne source, found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Berberine

Berberine and LDL cholesterolThree sources, all measured lowerHigh certainty, level 4 of 4
Berberine and Total cholesterolThree sources, all measured lowerHigh certainty, level 4 of 4
Berberine and TriglyceridesThree sources, all measured lowerHigh certainty, level 4 of 4
Berberine and HDL cholesterolThree sources, saying different thingsModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

Chromium

Chromium and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higherLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Chromium and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Chromium and Total cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Chromium and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higherLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Coenzyme Q10 and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Coenzyme Q10 and Total cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Coenzyme Q10 and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Curcumin

Curcumin and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higherModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Curcumin and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Curcumin and Total cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Curcumin and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

Ginger

Ginger and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Ginger and Total cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Ginger and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Ginger and HDL cholesterolOne source, measured higherVery low certainty, level 1 of 4

L-Carnitine

L-Carnitine and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higher, and one source carries a noticeLow certainty, level 2 of 4
L-Carnitine and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lower, and one source carries a noticeLow certainty, level 2 of 4
L-Carnitine and TriglyceridesTwo sources, saying different things, and one source carries a noticeLow certainty, level 2 of 4
L-Carnitine and Total cholesterolOne source, measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

N-acetylcysteine

N-acetylcysteine and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higherLow certainty, level 2 of 4
N-acetylcysteine and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4
N-acetylcysteine and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4
N-acetylcysteine and Total cholesterolOne source, measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Niacin (vitamin B3)

Niacin (vitamin B3) and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higherModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Niacin (vitamin B3) and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Niacin (vitamin B3) and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Niacin (vitamin B3) and Total cholesterolOne source, measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Piperine

Piperine and LDL cholesterolThree sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Piperine and Total cholesterolThree sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Piperine and TriglyceridesThree sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Piperine and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Silymarin

Silymarin and LDL cholesterolThree sources, saying different thingsModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Silymarin and Total cholesterolThree sources, saying different thingsModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Silymarin and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higherModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Silymarin and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Quercetin

Quercetin and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Quercetin and Total cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Quercetin and TriglyceridesTwo sources, all found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Taurine

Taurine and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Taurine and Total cholesterolOne source, measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Taurine and TriglyceridesOne source, measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Vitamin E

Vitamin E and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Vitamin E and Total cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Vitamin E and Oxidized LDL (oxLDL)One source, measured lowerVery low certainty, level 1 of 4

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin and HDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured higherLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Astaxanthin and TriglyceridesTwo sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Biotin (vitamin B7)

Biotin (vitamin B7) and Total cholesterolTwo sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Biotin (vitamin B7) and TriglyceridesTwo sources, saying different thingsLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Copper

Copper and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Copper and Total cholesterolTwo sources, all found no clear differenceLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA)

Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) and TriglyceridesFour sources, all measured lower, and one source carries a noticeModerate certainty, level 3 of 4
Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) and LDL cholesterolThree sources, all measured higherModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

Panax ginseng

Panax ginseng and LDL cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4
Panax ginseng and Total cholesterolTwo sources, all measured lowerLow certainty, level 2 of 4

Myo-inositol

Myo-inositol and TriglyceridesOne source, measured lowerVery low certainty, level 1 of 4

Plant Sterols

Plant Sterols and LDL cholesterolThree sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

Psyllium Husk

Psyllium Husk and LDL cholesterolThree sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

Red Yeast Rice

Red Yeast Rice and LDL cholesterolThree sources, all measured lowerModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

Sodium

Sodium and Total cholesterolTwo sources, saying different things, and one source carries a noticeModerate certainty, level 3 of 4

Where the sources say different things

Every side in full, because one line would have to pick one of them.

Each bar is one source’s range, drawn against the line of no difference: left of the line is lower, right is higher. Widths are not comparable between rows.

Berberine and HDL cholesterol
Three sources here, and they say different things: two measured higher HDL cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range, crossing no difference: these numbers fit no effect too. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2023 · 15 studies pooled · 1,471 participants
Silymarin and LDL cholesterol
Three sources here, and they say different things: two measured lower LDL cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2024
Silymarin and total cholesterol
Three sources here, and they say different things: two measured lower total cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2024
Piperine and LDL cholesterol
Three sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower LDL cholesterol and two found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range, crossing no difference: these numbers fit no effect too. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2026 · 16 studies pooled
Piperine and triglycerides
Three sources here, and they say different things: two measured lower triglycerides and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2026 · 16 studies pooled
Ginger and LDL cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower LDL cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different things
No number has been put on this yet.
Vitamin E and LDL cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower LDL cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2025
Ginger and total cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower total cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different things
No number has been put on this yet.
Sodium and total cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured higher total cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different thingsOne source carries a notice
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2020 · 27 studies pooled · 917 participants
Vitamin E and total cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower total cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Moderate certainty, level 3 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2025
Piperine and HDL cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured higher HDL cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2026 · 16 studies pooled
Quercetin and LDL cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower LDL cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2020
Taurine and LDL cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower LDL cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2025
Biotin (vitamin B7) and total cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower total cholesterol and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2022
Quercetin and total cholesterol
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower total cholesterol and one measured higher.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2020
Astaxanthin and triglycerides
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower triglycerides and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2025
Biotin (vitamin B7) and triglycerides
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower triglycerides and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different things
One source’s range, crossing no difference: these numbers fit no effect too. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2022
L-Carnitine and triglycerides
Two sources here, and they say different things: one measured lower triglycerides and one found no clear difference.
Low certainty, level 2 of 4The sources say different thingsOne source carries a notice
One source’s range. The sources here say different things. Systematic review, 2019 · 56 studies pooled

How much of this is one source

Read from 68 sources. 11 of the 70 questions here rest on a single source with nothing yet to check them against, and on 18 questions the sources say different things.

What is still to read is kept per ingredient, not per topic, so every ingredient named above carries its own list.

Still to read means nobody here has got to it, not that it was tried and did nothing or that no research exists. A pairing on no list is not a gap: we never set out to read it.

The other 14 topics

This is a library, not advice. No recommendation, no dose, no diagnosis, no ranking. We never ask about your symptoms, and nothing here is tailored to you.