@rainerhans I very briefly took a statin that almost immediately gave me an uncomfortable feeling. I had marginal lipid levels (top end of the range) so I took myself off the Crestor and did my research online. I take Red Yeast Rice daily (1200 mg) and Garlic tablets (2000 mg) daily plus a regular dose of 3-in-1 daily fiber capsules (I take 2 capsules every morning, but the suggested dosage on the bottle is 5! I think this would need to be experimented by each individual! Fiber moves everything through and cuts down on absorption of fats. So, this is just me: I lowered my levels by about 20% so I am in the normal range for LDL and triglycerides. My cardiologist told me that Red Yeast Rice is an "unregulated" statin, but it still is a statin. I have no side effects and I have taken this routine for several years now. My husband does take a statin because he has a genetic predisposition for making higher cholesterol in spite of dietary changes and he had a heart attack in his 40s so he was appropriately place on a statin. He has tolerated the statins well, but they are not for me. If your levels are very high, you would certainly want to discuss this with your doctor. Again, you can do some research online, read the studies and make your own adjustments if you decide to go this route. As for statins, it would be cheaper for me to take them since my insurance company would pay for them, and OTC supplements can add up, but I prefer not taking any drugs if I can avoid it. Again, just my preference. Good luck.