Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2018 and is preserved for historical interest. Some recommendations, regulations, and scientific evidence have changed since it was written. It reflects the research and perspectives available at that time.
Folic 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).
