Nutrition & DietStatins Beat Every Supplement Tested for LDL Reduction — But the Study Has Flaws
The SPORT trial from the Cleveland Clinic compared rosuvastatin (Crestor) against fish oil, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, plant sterols, and red yeast rice for LDL cholesterol reduction over one month. The statin lowered LDL by 35% on average — and reduced LDL in every single participant. No supplement beat the placebo, and garlic appeared to raise LDL slightly. However, NutritionFacts.org's Dr. Michael Greger scrutinizes the trial's design: the red yeast rice brand had zero active ingredients, the garlic product was odor-free and adulterated, and the study was funded by Crestor's manufacturer. Stronger cholesterol-lowering options like berberine, bergamot, psyllium, and artichoke were excluded entirely. The key takeaway is that whole foods outperform poorly regulated supplements, and statins remain highly effective — but this study's supplement selection was arguably rigged.
