Closeup view of cholesterol plaque in blood vesselFolic acid is not usually the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of high cholesterol, but a small study published in Medical Science Monitor (2013 Sept 4; 19: 733-9), looked at low-dose folic acid supplementation and cholesterol in 124 subjects. The subjects were Caucasian, between the ages of 19 and 39 years of age, with risk factors for atherosclerosis (either a family history of stroke, high cholesterol, sedentary lifestyle, obesity (or overweight), or smoking).

The subjects were given a low dose of folic acid daily (400 mcg/day) for a period of 12 weeks. Supplementation with the folic acid was found to be associated with a significant reduction in mean concentration of total cholesterol in females (203.4 vs. 193.1 mg/dL) and in males (209.5 vs. 201.9), and decreases in LDL cholesterol as well (107.4 vs 99.99 mg/dL in females and 121.5 vs 115.1 mg/dL in males).