Guggul and cholesterol
What 4 graded rows on guggul agree on for cholesterol, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the Guggul page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the Guggul page, with its PubMed record.
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Guggul and cholesterol
4 rows · 607 peopleSplit. 1 row found an improvement, 1 found no difference, 1 found a worse outcome and 1 had mixed results.
- CGrade C× 3
- DGrade D× 1
- Rows
- 4
- Trials
- 10
- People
- 607
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
Where they differ
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade C, is a meta-analysis of 380 people (2021) and found an improvement.
The row that found an improvement was larger: 380 people, against 90 people for the row that found no difference.
The row that found an improvement is a pooled review of several trials; the row that found no difference is a single study.
1 row with mixed results is left out of this comparison.
The rows
1 improved · 1 no difference · 1 worse · 1 mixed- CGrade CTotal and LDL cholesterol (Ayurvedic trials) · Improved
Meta-analysis, 7 studies · n 380 · 2021 · People with high cholesterol in 7 placebo-controlled RCTs of guggulu (8 trial arms), from a review of garlic, guggulu and black cumin
Varied by trial · Average 12 weeks
Guggulu lowered total cholesterol by 16.78 mg/dL and LDL by 18.78 mg/dL versus placebo; in 5 trials (264 people) HDL rose 2.19 mg/dL, and triglycerides did not change significantly.
- CGrade CTotal and LDL cholesterol with guggulu plus triphala · No difference
RCT · n 90 · 2021 · Adults at low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk with high cholesterol (Brescia, Italy)
Three times daily (product dose) · 3 months
LDL fell 4.8% with the blend and 4.9% with placebo, with no difference; BMI and waist did not change. 2 on the blend developed a hypersensitivity rash.
- CGrade CLDL cholesterol in adults with high cholesterol · Worse
RCT · n 103 · 2003 · Healthy adults with hypercholesterolaemia eating a Western diet (Philadelphia, USA)
1,000 mg or 2,000 mg three times daily · 8 weeks
LDL rose 4% (standard dose) and 5% (high dose) vs a 5% fall on placebo (P = .01 and .006); total cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides did not change. 6 users had a hypersensitivity rash.
- DGrade DTotal cholesterol in moderately high cholesterol · Mixed
RCT · n 34 · 2009 · Adults aged 27-70 with moderately raised cholesterol in Norwegian general practice (43 randomised)
2,160 mg/day · 12 weeks
Total cholesterol and HDL fell versus placebo, but LDL, triglycerides and the total/HDL ratio did not change. 10 guggul users vs 4 on placebo reported side effects, including possible thyroid problems (2) and a generalised rash (1).