Study Finds Popular Herb Does Not Lower Cholesterol

POSTED: 5:59 p.m. PDT August 13, 2003

Micki Flowers KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Health Reporter

It's a popular folk remedy made from a tree resin that's supposed to lower cholesterol and help battle heart disease.

But a study in a major medical journal found the supplement doesn't work. It might even have a dangerous side effect.

MORE ON THIS STORYRead The JAMA Study

With a family history of coronary disease and elevated cholesterol levels herself, Rosemary Gaudioso, 47, opted for a natural solution, the herbal supplement: Gugulipid, touted as a way to manage cholesterol.

Cholesterol Medical, health, medicine, blue heart (generic C) Medical/health CHOLESTEROLInteractive: All About CholesterolSlideshow: Foods That Lower Cholesterol Survey: Have High Cholesterol?

"I think I ended up taking six of them a day, and I had no reaction at all," said Gaudioso.

And neither did any of the 102 patients who participated in the same trial as Gaudioso and took Gugulipid, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows their total cholesterol levels remained the same.

And Gugulipid's effect on the so-called bad cholesterol levels gave scientists cause for concern.

"Surprisingly, the LDL cholesterol instead of going down, went up modestly, in the two Gugulipid-treated groups," said Dr. Philippe Szapary, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Gugulipid, a traditional Indian supplement, has become increasingly popular in the U.S. in the last few years, generally sold in capsule form and sometimes combined with other herbs.

While the researchers say this supplement clearly does not make good heart sense for those needing to watch their cholesterol, they remind us, there are other things that can help, such as Omega Fatty 3 Acids from fish and the old standby soluble fibers like oatmeal.