Raising HDL - any supplement brands that actually move the needle?

[bastxpl]

Hey all, I’m two weeks into a cruise after a heavy blast and just got new bloods back. Everything looks solid except HDL, which is still stubborn.

Question:

Has anyone here had real success raising HDL with specific brands of supplements? Not theory, I mean products that actually gave you a measurable bump on labs.

Pic of my current EPA / DHA supplement, I take 2 a day. I am getting enough healthy dietary fats, especially when coupled with the fish oil.

My lipids (latest panel):

Total Cholesterol: 93

LDL: 47

Triglycerides: 34

HDL: 40

If you’ve used a brand or product that moved HDL up in real bloodwork — fish oil, niacin, citrus bergamot, anything — would appreciate hearing what worked.

Thanks!

 

[Raiders789]

Ngl bro I'm kinda jealous I wouldn't be too worried with an HDL of 40 esp if your ldl is 47. I never see mine get out of the 30s on my cruises. Did u get an apoa1/apob test as well? Also I'm guessing your on a statin, no?

I think the consensus is that hdl doesn't really matter in terms of long term plaque buildup if you keep your ldl as low as possible, although ideally you keep it is high as you can(hdl). But it looks like you are in regression territory with your ldl that low and hdl that high. I don't believe there are any supplements that actually raise hdl besides fish oil, which slightly boosts it. Not a supplement but doing cardio helps too.

Ghoul has a really good post on niacin actually being an overall net negative for your health even though mega dosing it makes your hdl higher on labs - although much of that increase is small dysfunctional HDL particles that dont reverse cholesterol transport and could contribute to inflammation. In the clincal trails with niacin, they raised HDL levels but didn't have any affect on cardiovascular risk.

My take on it is that now I just try to keep my ldl as low as possible and do what I can to keep my hdl up, although I don't really worry about it. I think the only ways to raise it is fish oil, cardio, and eating majority healthy/unsaturated fats so I just do those and as long as my ldl stays ~50 and apob is ~40 I don't really mind the low hdl.

 

[bastxpl]

Ngl bro I'm kinda jealous I wouldn't be too worried with an HDL of 40 esp if your ldl is 47. I never see mine get out of the 30s on my cruises. Did u get an apoa1/apob test as well? Also I'm guessing your on a statin, no?

I think the consensus is that hdl doesn't really matter in terms of long term plaque buildup if you keep your ldl as low as possible, although ideally you keep it is high as you can(hdl). But it looks like you are in regression territory with your ldl that low and hdl that high. I don't believe there are any supplements that actually raise hdl besides fish oil, which slightly boosts it. Not a supplement but doing cardio helps too.

Ghoul has a really good post on niacin actually being an overall net negative for your health even though mega dosing it makes your hdl higher on labs - although much of that increase is small dysfunctional HDL particles that dont reverse cholesterol transport and could contribute to inflammation. In the clincal trails with niacin, they raised HDL levels but didn't have any affect on cardiovascular risk.

My take on it is that now I just try to keep my ldl as low as possible and do what I can to keep my hdl up, although I don't really worry about it. I think the only ways to raise it is fish oil, cardio, and eating majority healthy/unsaturated fats so I just do those and as long as my ldl stays ~50 and apob is ~40 I don't really mind the low hdl.

Thanks for the encouragement! ApoB ≈ 0.47 g/L (≈47 mg/dL) from October. It has always been good, so I didn't get it this time. I'm currently taking 5mg of Crestor and am thinking of reducing to 2.5 of I can get the HDL to at least quit falling (June 2025 (mid-blast): 51 mg/dL, October 2025 (cruise week 2): 49 mg/dL, December 2025 (cruise week 9): 40 mg/dL. Cardio and diet are locked down. I am toying with starting the Stamets protocol again for 6 or 8 months, which uses niacin, but just enough to flush, so not certain it will help. I was put on a statin to begin with because I had a "phantom" LAD blockage (present in the CT angio, then gone when I had an invasive angio... FML, no blockage)... but now I'm on a shitload of medicine it is aparantly bad to stop using cold turkey. BP was always borderline high, in check now. Would love to drop crestor and the beta blocker asap and just keep the telmesartan. As an aside, my cardio is fully aware of my lifestyle choices and doses and supportive of cessation but he is gonna dislike the HDL number.

 

[Gonz0]

Ngl bro I'm kinda jealous I wouldn't be too worried with an HDL of 40 esp if your ldl is 47. I never see mine get out of the 30s on my cruises. Did u get an apoa1/apob test as well? Also I'm guessing your on a statin, no?

I think the consensus is that hdl doesn't really matter in terms of long term plaque buildup if you keep your ldl as low as possible, although ideally you keep it is high as you can(hdl). But it looks like you are in regression territory with your ldl that low and hdl that high. I don't believe there are any supplements that actually raise hdl besides fish oil, which slightly boosts it. Not a supplement but doing cardio helps too.

Ghoul has a really good post on niacin actually being an overall net negative for your health even though mega dosing it makes your hdl higher on labs - although much of that increase is small dysfunctional HDL particles that dont reverse cholesterol transport and could contribute to inflammation. In the clincal trails with niacin, they raised HDL levels but didn't have any affect on cardiovascular risk.

My take on it is that now I just try to keep my ldl as low as possible and do what I can to keep my hdl up, although I don't really worry about it. I think the only ways to raise it is fish oil, cardio, and eating majority healthy/unsaturated fats so I just do those and as long as my ldl stays ~50 and apob is ~40 I don't really mind the low hdl.

Yeah bro I’d be stoked with those numbers , ldl and triglycerides have always been in range but my hdl will get down to single digits depending on what I’m running. Adding in some Ezetimibe on this cruise so hoping to see it go above 40 on my next saey of labs lol

 

[Gonz0]

Niacin flushing has been the closest I’ve ever been to rushing to the ER or calling poison control. Went to lay down after taking niacin for the first and last time and all of the sudden it felt like I had been lit on fire. 0/10 , sticking to citrus berg , fish oil and Ezetimibe.

 

[Raiders789]

Niacin flushing has been the closest I’ve ever been to rushing to the ER or calling poison control. Went to lay down after taking niacin for the first and last time and all of the sudden it felt like I had been lit on fire. 0/10 , sticking to citrus berg , fish oil and Ezetimibe.

Yea lmao the flush niacin is terrible -

I remember one time (back when i used to take it everyday) I accidentally took 1g at once and literally was burning/itching so bad for an hour straight it felt like i was in hell. Shit sucks so much lol.

 

[buck]

I spent years/decades trying to get my HDL up. With little effect.
In many studies i have seen low cholesterol can be worse for longevity( not heart issues) then high cholesterol. Same with very high HDL. I don't think modern science has it all figured out yet.

 

[bastxpl]

Thanks for the mention of Ezetimibe. I am going to ask my cardio about switching. It cheap AF here, like $4 for 28. Sounds like I'm worrying about a lot of nothing.

 

[Ghoul]

I spent years/decades trying to get my HDL up. With little effect.
In many studies i have seen low cholesterol can be worse for longevity( not heart issues) then high cholesterol. Same with very high HDL. I don't think modern science has it all figured out yet.

You’re referring to the “Cholesterol paradox”, tiny groups of old people who have high cholesterol.

This is joined by the “Obesity paradox” and “Hypertension paradox”.

There are interesting genetic / lifestyle explanations why some people with those characteristics make it to old age, but the reason those handful of survivors are a “paradox” isn’t because because plaque filled arteries, carrying 150lbs of flab, or blood vessel bursting blood pressure is the secret to long life. It’s because the other 99% with those conditions were killed by them decades earlier.

Also, untreated cholesterol falling to low levels is a marker of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, and even happens immediately post heart attack. But low cholesterol isn’t a cause of those things, it’s a symptom.

It’s been proven without a doubt lowering cholesterol reduces all cause mortality, and so far, no lower limit of LDL / ApoB at which the benefits stop increasing.