Studies on Supplements Showing Beneficial Impact on Cholesterol Levels

Pantethine Studies
24 women of perimenopausal age with total serum cholesterol greater than or equal to 240 mg/dl) were given 900 mg/day of pantethine. After 16 weeks, significant reductions of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were observed. Overall, 80% of the women had a significant improvement in cholesterol and none of the patients complained of adverse reactions due to the treatment with pantethine.
Binaghi P, Cellina G, Lo Cicero G, Bruschi F, Porcaro E, Penotti M. Minerva Med 1990 Jun;81(6):475-9

65 adults with high cholesterol either alone or also with high triglycerides were given 900-1200 mg/day of pantethine for 3-6 months. "Pantethine treatment produced significant reduction of the better known risk factors (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and apo-B) and a significant increase of HDL-cholesterol (signally HDL2) and apolipoprotein A-I."
Bertolini S, Donati C, Elicio N, Daga A, Cuzzolaro S, Marcenaro A, Saturnino M, Balestreri R. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol 1986 Nov;24(11):630-7

29 persons with varying cholesterol problems were given 900 mg of pantethine for 8 weeks. Total and LDL cholesterol decreased about 13.5%. HDL cholesterol increased 10%. In persons with high triglycerides, levels were reduced by 13-30%.
Gaddi A, Descovich GC, Noseda G, Fragiacomo C, Colombo L, Craveri A, Montanari G, Sirtori CR. Atherosclerosis 1984 Jan;50(1):73-83

In a study of 27 diabetics with high cholesterol and tryglyceride levels, pantethine was more effective in lowering triglycerides than either two cholesterol lowering drugs (acipimox and bezafibrate).
Tonutti L, Taboga C, Noacco C. Minerva Med 1991 Oct;82(10):657-63

37 persons with high cholesterol and/or high triglycerides were given 600 mg a day of pantethine for 90 days. "Pantethine induced in all groups a quick and progressive decrease of cholesterolemia, triglyceridemia, LDL cholesterol and Apolipoproteins B with increased HDL cholesterol and Apolipoproteins A."
Arsenio L, Caronna S, Lateana M, Magnati G, Strata A, Zammarchi G. Acta Biomed Ateneo Parmense 1984;55(1):25-42

24 persons with high cholesterol were given pantethine for 1 year. "Blood lipid assays repeated after 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment revealed consistent and statistically significant reductions of all atherogenic lipid fractions (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B) with parallel increases of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A."
Arsenio L, Bodria P, Magnati G, Strata A, Trovato R. Clin Ther 1986;8(5):537-45

Vitamin U
Vitamin U was studied in 26 patients with high cholesterol at a daily dose of 1500 mg/day for 8 weeks. Total cholesterol decreased about 10%, and a significant improvement in HDL cholesterol and in the ratio of total cholesterol/HDL was observed.
Nakamura N, Uzawa H, Kanazawa K, Tamai Y, Tashiro Y, Koide M Hypolipidemic effect of L-form S-methylmethionine sulfonium chloride in man. Arzneimittelforschung 1981;31(4):725-9

Spirulina
25 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were given 2 grams a day of Spirulina for 2 months. "Triglyceride levels were significantly lowered. Total cholesterol (TC) and its fraction, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), exhibited a fall coupled with a marginal increase in the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). As a result, a significant reduction in the atherogenic indices, TC:HDL-C and LDL-C: HDL-C, was observed."
Parikh P, Mani U, Iyer U. Role of Spirulina in the Control of Glycemia and Lipidemia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. J Med Food. 2001 Winter;4(4):193-199.

23 persons with high cholesterol secondary to nephritic syndrome were given 1 g/day of spirulina. Significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were observed.
Samuels R, Mani UV, Iyer UM, Nayak US. Hypocholesterolemic effect of spirulina in patients with hyperlipidemic nephrotic syndrome. J Med Food. 2002 Summer;5(2):91-6.

Fish Oil
"A significant decrease in plasma triacylglycerol, plasma apolipoprotein B-48, and platelet phospholipids arachidonic acid concentrations and a significant increase in plasma HDL concentrations and platelet phospholipid EPA and DHA levels were observed after fish-oil supplementation."
Lovegrove JA, Lovegrove SS, Lesauvage SV, Brady LM, Saini N, Minihane AM, Williams CM. Moderate fish-oil supplementation reverses low-platelet, long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid status and reduces plasma triacylglycerol concentrations in British Indo-Asians. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jun;79(6):974-82.

"These results suggest that dietary fish oil may decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease through the modulation of both plasma lipids and inflammatory markers in healthy postmenopausal women."
Ciubotaru I, Lee YS, Wander RC. Dietary fish oil decreases C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and triacylglycerol to HDL-cholesterol ratio in postmenopausal women on HRT. J Nutr Biochem. 2003 Sep;14(9):513-21.

68 with high cholesterol and high triglycerides were given either 500 mg of vitamin C, 1 g of fish oil, 500 mg of vitamin C + 1 g of fish oil, or placebo for 10 weeks. In the group that received fish oil "there was a significantand a marginally significant decrease, respectively, in TG/HDL and apo-B levels as compared to the initial values, and the TG/HDL ratio showed a significant decrease as compared to the control group."
Shidfar F, Keshavarz A, Jallali M, Miri R, Eshraghian M. 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. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2003 May;73(3):163-70.

In 42 type 2 diabetic patients, fish oil lowered triglycerides and and raised HDL cholesterol levels.
Petersen M, Pedersen H, Major-Pedersen A, Jensen T, Marckmann P. Effect of fish oil versus corn oil supplementation on LDL and HDL subclasses in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes Care. 2002 Oct;25(10):1704-8.

In 20 persons with high cholesterol and/or high triglycerides, after low dose supplementations with fish oil a "significant reduction of the triglyceride level was registered in all subjects with the greatest decrease in those patients who presented with the highest base levels..The HDL-cholesterol fraction also showed a significant increase."
Schindler OS, Rost R. Effect of low dose omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in coronary patients with dyslipoproteinemia. Z Ernahrungswiss 1996;35:191-8