Guggulipid is a natural compound derived from the resin of the Commiphora mukul tree, native to India. In that country, guggulipid is an approved cholesterol-lowering supplement. In the mid 1990s, an excellent study performed at the Heart Research Laboratory, Medical Hospital and Research Centre in India showed that 100 mg of guggulipid a day could help reduce high cholesterol substantially.

This double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared guggulipid to a placebo in a 24-week trial. The 61 participants, who all had high cholesterol levels, were put on a fruit and vegetable-rich diet and given either a placebo or 50 mg of guggulipid, twice daily. At 24 weeks, the group on guggulipid had reduced their total cholesterol by 11.7%, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 12.5% and triglycerides by 12%. The levels were unchanged in the placebo group. HDL (“good”) cholesterol remained the same in both groups.

Blood tests on the guggulipid group also indicated 33.3% less lipid peroxides—indicators of oxidative or free radical stress. The placebo group showed no such decrease. At 36 weeks, the combined effect of diet and guggulipid was as great as some cholesterol-lowering medications.

Source: Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 1994 Aug;8(4):659-64