Six commonly used dietary supplements marketed as cholesterol-busting therapies, including fish oil, garlic and turmeric, have no effect on any lipid biomarkers, a small randomised trial shows. 

US researchers say none of these supplements led to a statistically significant decrease in LDL cholesterol compared to placebo, while garlic actually resulted in increased levels. 

Yet those who took a low-dose statin showed a 38% drop in LDL cholesterol over 28 days, the authors reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 

“These findings do not support the ‘cholesterol health’ claims made by supplement manufacturers,” they wrote.