How MultiVitamin Supplements Can Lower Cholesterol

Can multivitamin supplements lower cholesterol?  Some of them can.  It depends on what they contain.  This article looks at the ingredients in supplements that have proven to be beneficial in clinical studies.
Bioflavonoids

Bioflavonoids are nutrients found in plants that have antioxidant activity.  One of the plants that contain them is the camellia sinensis plant, also known as the common tea plant.

Black, green and many other kinds of tea come from the same plant.  The only difference is in how the leaves are processed.

It is commonly said that the black teas are “fermented”, although it is not the kind of fermentation process that creates alcohol.  It is actually an aging or oxidation process that turns the green tea leaves black.

Green tea leaves are not oxidized.  So, they contain more antioxidants. 
Both green and black teas contain bioflavonoids called theaflavins.  Green teas also contain catechins. 

While there are many compounds promoted for their cholesterol-lowering effects, the Mayo Clinic says that there is more supportive evidence for the benefits of theaflavins and catechins than for any other compounds. 

Exactly how they work is unknown at this time.  They may promote the conversion of cholesterols within the bloodstream into bile acids, which are then disposed of along with other waste products.

Phytosterols

We might not know exactly how theaflavins and tea catechins work, but we know what Phytosterols can do.  If multivitamin supplements lower cholesterol, they probably contain them.  They are plant compounds very similar to cholesterols on a molecular level. 

Because of that, they compete with cholesterols for absorption in the digestive system.  This should help to prevent cholesterols found in the foods that you eat from being absorbed into the bloodstream. 

Rice Bran Oil

Some multivitamin supplements lower cholesterol because they contain rice bran oil.  Rice bran is a source of policosanol, which reduces the production of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body.  It also contains beta-sitosterol, one of the Phytosterols mentioned above. 

An added benefit is that rice bran oil helps to raise “good” HDL cholesterol levels, which is also important.  HDLs help to cleanse the arteries of LDL particles.  Ideally, we would want to achieve a balance in the blood, with a very low number of LDL particles and a higher number of HDLs.

Vitamin D & Other Antioxidants

If multivitamin supplements lower cholesterol too much, it could cause health problems.  The risk of cholesterols and other fats in the bloodstream arises because they can become oxidized or hardened on the arterial walls. 
This results in a narrowing of the blood vessels, increased blood pressure and placing extra stress on the heart.  If a piece of the clot becomes dislodged, it can block an artery, causing a heart attack or stroke.

In general, increasing your antioxidant intake is a good idea, because the nutrients help to prevent free radical damage throughout the body.  Vitamin D is worth mentioning, because surveys indicate that most Americans are not meeting their minimum daily requirements for this essential nutrient.

Some multivitamin supplements lower cholesterol and prevent the formation of artery blocking plaques, too.  The value of the supplement depends solely on the ingredients it contains. Cholesterol Supplement