Natural Ways to Reduce Cholesterol and How to Increase HDL Naturally.

Niacin added to statin therapy:

Extended-release niacin 1000 mg/day added to statin therapy in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial over 1 year had the following results (62):

• Slowed the progression of atherosclerosis among patients with known coronary heart disease plus low HDL cholesterol.
• Carotid intima-media thickness increased significantly in the placebo group and was unchanged in the statin plus niacin group.
• 21% increase in HDL cholesterol in the niacin group.
• Cardiovascular events were reported in 3.8% and 9.6% of patients in the niacin group and placebo group, respectively.

 Niacin and simvastatin for hyperlipidemia:

In a 3-year double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial by Brown et al, treatment with sustained release niacin added to simvastatin dramatically reduced cardiac events, improved stenosis of coronary arteries, and reduced LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in coronary heart disease.