Can plant sterols and krill oil tame inherited high cholesterol?

NCT ID NCT05695937

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Hospital do Coracao Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This pilot study tested whether adding plant sterols (phytosterols) and/or krill oil to a heart-healthy Brazilian diet can lower cholesterol in people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), an inherited condition causing very high cholesterol. Fifty-eight adults with FH were randomly assigned to one of four groups: diet alone, diet plus phytosterols, diet plus krill oil, or diet plus both supplements. The study measured changes in LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) after 120 days, along with adherence and side effects, to inform a larger future trial.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: phytosterols and krill oil (dietary supplements)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a way to better manage high cholesterol in people with familial hypercholesterolemia using diet and supplements.
What could go wrong: This is a small pilot study (58 people) with no phase, so results are preliminary. The supplements may not significantly lower cholesterol, and the diet may be hard to stick with long-term.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

familial hypercholesterolemia Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

FAMILIAL HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Hcor

São Paulo, Brazil
Hospital Ana Nery

Salvador, Brazil
Hospital São José

Criciúma, Brazil
Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Goiás

Goiânia, Brazil
InCor

São Paulo, Brazil
Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia

São Paulo, Brazil
Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Universidade Feevale

São Leopoldo, Brazil
Universidade Regional do Noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

Ijuí, Brazil

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