CholestOff by Nature Made is a dietary supplement that claims to “lower blood cholesterol levels.” According to the company behind it, CholestOff “contains active ingredients that block your body’s absorption of cholesterol while improving your cardiovascular health.” CholestOff is neither a remedy for someone with a medical condition nor a weight loss pill – it is merely a preventative supplement.
We wanted our research team to investigate the use of CholestOff in clinical studies to see if it has long-term benefits. So, we looked into the science behind to product to give you the Bottom Line. Read on to learn what we found.
What is CholestOff?
CholestOff is a nonprescriptive, dietary supplement that claims to “lower the levels of blood cholesterol.” The supplement is also widely prescribed to enhance cardiovascular health and wellbeing.
Nature Made or Pharmavite, LLC is a California-based manufacturer of dietary supplements, multivitamins, and herbal supplements. Other brands offered by Pharmavite LLC include Equelle, MegaFood, Nurish, and Uqora.
According to Nature Made, CholestOff uses a proprietary blend of plant stanols and sterols called Reducol, a tasteless, odorless ingredient that they state “works as a catalyst that blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the gut.”
Reducol is also a popular ingredient in manufacturing dietary supplements and fatty and nonfat functional foods. Naturally occurring plant sterols and stanols are present in various plants’ leaves, vegetables, and nuts.
Through decades of research, plant sterols and stanols have been useful as a critical ingredient in supplements and drugs.
One serving of CholestOff supplies 0.9g of sterols and stanols in capsule form. Users of CholestOff should consult their physicians as part of the cholesterol management program.
A complete regimen encompasses regular checks of cholesterol levels, a healthy diet, physical exercise, and body weight management.
What does the research have to say about the Reducol component?
- Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry – “Phytostanyl fatty acid esters, which are being added to a variety of foods owing to their cholesterol-lowering properties, are susceptible to thermally induced oxidation reactions.” Such fatty acid esters are found in ingredients like Reducol.
- National Library of Medicine – You can even add Reducol to plant-sterol enriched milk for positive results on cholesterol levels.
- Journal of Oleo Science – A direct look into plant sterols in other research again shows a promising impact on cholesterol.
Customer Service Contact Information
- Address: 8531 Fallbrook Ave., West Hills, CA 91304
- Mail: P.O. Box 8531 West Hills, CA 91309-9903
- Phone: 1-800-276-2878 toll-free Monday – Friday, 8 am to 2 pm (Pacific Time)
- Contact form: https://www.naturemade.com/pages/contact-us
- Email: info@naturemade.com
Refund Policy
If you are not completely satisfied with your product, you may request a refund of your payment (less any applicable shipping fees) or a replacement within 30 days of receipt.
What is Cholesterol?
To learn and appreciate the benefits of CholestOff, it is crucial to understand what cholesterol is.
Blood cholesterol is crucial for making hormones and digesting food. However, having too much cholesterol can have effects on your health
According to Nature Made, “CholestOff lowers the level of LDL and Non-LDL cholesterol.” Though Nutrients also note their potential benefits, larger and more comprehensive studies are needed to confirm these findings.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) advises people who want to manage their cholesterol levels to decrease their dietary intake of saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol.
Sterols Vs. Stanols
Sterols and stanols sound an awful lot alike; there are similarities and differences. On a molecular level, both look similar to cholesterol. You can find both in foods, but some companies understand sterols and stanols benefit health, according to the Journal of AOAC International.
CholestOff Ingredients
The active ingredients in CholestOff, are sourced from natural plants such as the pine tree.
The foods with high concentrations of fortified stanols and sterols include granola bars, yogurt, margarine, and orange juice.
Regarding this dietary supplement, four caplets of CholestOff can deliver up to 1.8g of sterols and stanols.
According to the instructions, CholestOff contains no artificial flavors, gluten, preservatives, or yeast. Besides plant sterols and stanols, other ingredients include:
- Plant Sterols/ Stanols (Pine Tree)
- Cellulose Gel
- Polyethylene Glycol
- Calcium Carbonate
- Triethyl Citrate
- Polysorbate 80
- Tribasic Calcium Phosphate
- Silicon Dioxide
- Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose
- Croscarmellose Sodium
- Magnesium Stearate
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose is a coating agent many pharmaceutical companies use. While Croscarmellose sodium and Polysorbate 80 works as an emulsifier.
Magnesium stearate is a standard white substance used in the manufacture of some diet pills.
Silicon dioxide helps absorb moisture and is considered an anticaking agent.
Polythene glycol is a popular polyether compound in several medications, while Triethyl citrate is a colorless and odorless liquid that helps stabilize foams. The ingredient is also used by pharmaceutical companies for coating purposes.
Supplements such as CholestOff should not be taken to treat health issues. For this reason, patients are advised to consult the doctor before taking any dietary supplements.
Does CholestOff Work?
Some research supports the effectiveness of CholestOff in its claims of reducing blood cholesterol levels. According to the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, supplementation with a dietary supplement containing plant sterols/stanols reduced the total cholesterol by 2.8%, LDL cholesterol by 4.9%, and non-HDL cholesterol 3.6%.
Most of the reviews concerning CholestOff on sites like Amazon.com are positive.
Sterols are widely available in natural foods such as grains, vegetables, and fruits.
CholestOff Side Effects
Some individuals report nausea, heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, and indigestion. Taking CholestOff products are not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating mothers. Restrictions also apply to people with certain medical conditions and those allergic to pine trees and constituent products.
CholestOff Directions
The recommended serving of CholestOff for high cholesterol and other natural support is two capsules, two times a day, which equals a 1,800 mg dosage. The CholestOff Original contains 60 to 120 caplets, depending on the container size.
The supplement is best before meals; Nature Made recommends taking between 15 to 30 minutes before mealtime.
To better swallow the pills, you can drink water before and during consumption.
Where to Buy CholestOff?
CholestOff Complete Softgels is available on the official website, the 120 softgels bottle cost $46.49.
There is also a location finder on the official website if you would like to purchase the supplement at a store near you.
CholestOff prices range heavily based on where you buy it. For example, a 120 softgels count bottle costs about $38.86 on iHerb.
The Bottom Line on CholestOff
While many supplements marketed for their ability to lower levels of cholesterol show promise, a few others are neither strong nor effective in lowering the levels of cholesterol.
The results obtained from people using CholestOff can vary, depending on whether the individual has a history of heart conditions, preexistence medical condition, nursing or pregnant.
Before taking CholestOff for weight loss, it is important to understand that there are diet pills, supplements and support programs on the market that are more effective for weight loss.
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