Fiber

Can you take fiber with statins?

Updated 4 Nov 2026

Short answer

Trials have given psyllium together with a statin, and LDL cholesterol fell further than with the statin alone. In 68 patients, 10 mg of simvastatin plus 15 g of psyllium a day lowered LDL by 63 mg/dL at 8 weeks, and 10 mg of simvastatin plus placebo lowered it by 55 mg/dL. The combination did as much as 20 mg of simvastatin alone, and it was well tolerated.[1]

A 2018 review of 3 trials, lasting 4 to 12 weeks, reached a similar result. Three of its five authors worked for the company Procter & Gamble Health Care, so this review is not independent.[2] A 2022 review of people with heart disease or high blood pressure found benefits from more fiber with or without heart medicines.[3]

These trials were small and short, and they measured blood fats, not heart attacks.[1][2] A person on a statin should talk to a doctor before adding fiber or changing the dose, because the European Medicines Agency says this use needs medical supervision.[4]

Sources (4)

  1. Effect of combining psyllium fiber with simvastatin in lowering cholesterol. Moreyra AE, Wilson AC, Koraym A Arch Intern Med, 2005. PMID 15911730
  2. Meta-Analysis of Usefulness of Psyllium Fiber as Adjuvant Antilipid Therapy to Enhance Cholesterol Lowering Efficacy of Statins. Brum J, Ramsey D, McRorie J, Bauer B, Kopecky SL Am J Cardiol, 2018. PMID 30078477
  3. Dietary fibre in hypertension and cardiovascular disease management: systematic review and meta-analyses. Reynolds AN, Akerman A, Kumar S, Diep Pham HT, Coffey S, Mann J BMC Med, 2022. PMID 35449060
  4. Community herbal monograph on Plantago ovata Forssk., seminis tegumentum. European Medicines Agency, HMPC, 2013. www.ema.europa.eu

More about fiber

What is fiber?How does fiber lower cholesterol?How much fiber do you need per day?What is fiber used for?How long does fiber take to lower cholesterol?Is fiber safe?

For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.