Is Black Seed the New Red Yeast Rice?

New data support the use of black seed for reducing cholesterol. You might get some questions about this – here’s the latest.

A new meta-analysis of 24 moderate-quality, clinical studies in adults with and without hyperlipidemia shows that taking black seed by mouth modestly reduces total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides, and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. This supports a previous meta-analysis of 5 clinical trials with similar findings, showing that taking black seed reduces total cholesterol by 17 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol by 11 mg/dL, and triglycerides by 12 mg/dL. While promising, the new evidence is limited due to differences in patient populations, dosing, and black seed preparations.

If patients ask about this, explain that a black seed constituent called thymoquinone might be responsible for its cholesterol-lowering effects. Many other potential benefits of black seed, such as blood sugar-lowering effects, are also attributed to thymoquinone. But when it comes to clinical benefits for hyperlipidemia, tell patients that it’s hard to know what preparation and dose of black seed might be most beneficial. It’s also unclear if taking black seed along with statins is helpful. For example, one clinical study shows that taking black seed powder 1 gram twice daily for 6 weeks doesn’t lower cholesterol levels when compared with statin use alone.

When it comes to safety concerns, black seed seems to be well-tolerated – stomach discomfort and nausea are among the most common side effects. Black seed oil has been used safely in doses of up to 5 grams daily for up to 12 weeks, and black seed powder has been used safely in doses of up to 2 grams daily for up to 12 months.

To learn more about other common black seed uses, such as hypertension, review our latest update.