Here's a list of individual dietary supplements that can help cholesterol levels. I use fish oil, flax seed, and extra dietary fiber as staples:
What it does Side effects and drug interactions
Artichoke extract May reduce total cholesterol and LDL, or "bad," cholesterol May cause gas or an allergic reaction
Barley May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol
Beta-sitosterol (found in oral supplements and some margarines, such as Promise Activ) May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol
May cause nausea, indigestion, gas, diarrhea or constipation
May be ineffective if you take ezetimibe (Zetia), a prescription cholesterol medication
Blond psyllium (found in seed husk and products such as Metamucil) May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol May cause gas, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation or nausea
Fish oil (found as a liquid oil and in oil-filled capsules) May reduce triglycerides
May cause a fishy aftertaste, bad breath, gas, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
May interact with some blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
Flaxseed, ground May reduce triglycerides
May cause, gas, bloating or diarrhea
May interact with some blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix) and warfarin (Coumadin)
Garlic extract May reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides
May cause bad breath, body odor, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
May interact with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
Green tea extract May lower LDL cholesterol
May cause nausea, vomiting, gas or diarrhea
May interact with blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin)
Oat bran (found in oatmeal and whole oats) May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol May cause gas or bloating
Sitostanol (found in oral supplements and some margarines, such as Benecol) May reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol May cause diarrhea
Another popular cholesterol-lowering supplement is red yeast rice. There is some evidence that red yeast rice can help lower your LDL cholesterol. However, the Food and Drug Administration has warned that red yeast rice products could contain a naturally occurring form of the prescription medication known as lovastatin. Lovastatin in the red yeast rice products in question is potentially dangerous because there's no way for you to know what level or quality of lovastatin might be in red yeast rice.