Gugulipid, or guggul, is a natural substance derived from the mukul myrrh tree. The mukul myrrh gives off a sticky resin, which is processed to obtain the extract. It has been used for thousands of years in Aryuvedic medicine to treat obesity and arthritis. Recently, herbalists have begun to recommend gugulipid not only for these conditions, but also to lower low density lipoprotein (LDL) forms of cholesterol and raise high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Herbalists and other practitioners of alternate medicine also claim it can prevent atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, and reduce high levels of triglycerides.
There has been some clinical studies on gugulipid to investigate these claims. Several trials in India suggest a very small decrease in bad (LDL) levels of cholesterol, although not equal to pharmaceutical preparations made to treat the same. In the largest study, gugulipid seemed to slightly increase levels of LDL, making the claims of reducing cholesterol suspect. There is some evidence from these studies that it decreases triglycerides by about 12%. Since medications that decrease cholesterol do not usually decrease triglycerides, there may be some value in using the extract to address high triglyceride levels.
Studies in mice found that gugulipid may have anti-diabetic properties. One further study suggests that it may also reduce acne. These studies were small and need to be substantiated with larger clinical trials. Unfortunately, this research is often relied upon to market gugulipid and tend to exaggerate the nature of clinical trials and their results.
Gugulipid has not been evaluated for safety in pregnant or nursing women, and such women should probably avoid it. Some people have mild to moderate stomach complaints, such as pain, flatulence, and diarrhea, when using it. Periodically, those who use gugulipid develop allergic skin rashes. It is concerning that some websites marketing this product not only inflate evidence, but also report that there are no side effects.
The recommended dosage of gugulipid is 1,500 mg daily. Tablets and capsules are generally 500 mg, so a 60-tablet bottle does not constitute a full month’s supply.
When one is considering adding any type of herbal preparation to one’s health regimen, consulting a medical professional is an excellent course of action. Some herbs can compete with some medications, creating health problems. Some healthcare providers are more receptive to using alternative medicines than others. If one is inclined to use alternative medicines or therapies, medical professionals who use complementary medicine, the combination of traditional medicine and alternative medicine, may be the best choice for consultation on this or any other herbal product.