PlainVitamins

Cholesterol Essentials

by Swanson Condition Specific Formulas · tablet or pill · 120 tablets

  • Off the market since October 2018 (NIH)
  • UPC 0 87614 07005 6
  • DSLD label 175710
  • Serving 2 tablets
  • 60 servings

Cholesterol Essentials by Swanson Condition Specific Formulas lists 21 ingredients, 21 with an amount per serving of 2 tablets, such as 500 mg of vitamin C, 7 mg of thiamine, 7 mg of riboflavin and 107 mg NE of niacinamide. Its current label entered the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database on April 25, 2018.

What is in Cholesterol Essentials?

Each row as the label prints it, per serving of 2 tablets. The capsule beside an amount places it among every product in the NIH database that lists the same ingredient: the bar is the middle half of their amounts, the line in it the median, the whiskers the 10th and 90th percentiles; the green tick is the FDA Daily Value and the red dashed tick the adult upper limit (IOM).

Cholesterol Essentials: Supplement Facts rows against the market (DSLD label 175710, January 2026 release)
IngredientAmount% DVAmong products listing it
Vitamin Cas Ascorbic AcidVitamin C (Alt. Name: Ascorbic Acid) Note: USP500 mg556%Vitamin C in Cholesterol Essentials against 18,583 products500 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 60 mg to 270 mg, the median 100 mg.DV 90 mgUL 2,000 mg500 mg

Higher than 81% of 18,583 products listing vitamin C (median 100 mg).

Thiamineas Thiamine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B1Thiamin (Form: as Thiamin HCl) (Alt. Name: Vitamin B-1) Note: USP7 mg583%Thiamin in Cholesterol Essentials against 9,830 products7 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.5 mg to 25 mg, the median 5 mg.DV 1.2 mg7 mg

Higher than 56% of 9,830 products listing thiamin (median 5 mg).

Riboflavinas Vitamin B2Riboflavin (Alt. Name: Vitamin B-2) Note: USP7 mg538%Riboflavin in Cholesterol Essentials against 9,824 products7 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 1.7 mg to 25 mg, the median 4 mg.DV 1.3 mg7 mg

Higher than 58% of 9,824 products listing riboflavin (median 4 mg).

Niacinamide107 mg NE669%Niacin in Cholesterol Essentials against 12,413 products107 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 13.2 mg to 48 mg, the median 20 mg.DV 16 mgUL 35 mg107 mg

Higher than 93% of 12,413 products listing niacin (median 20 mg). 3.1 times the adult UL a day.

Vitamin B6as Pyridoxine HydrochlorideVitamin B-6 (Form: as Pyridoxine HCl) Note: USP7 mg412%Vitamin B6 in Cholesterol Essentials against 15,277 products7 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 2 mg to 20 mg, the median 6 mg.DV 1.7 mgUL 100 mg7 mg

Higher than 52% of 15,277 products listing vitamin B6 (median 6 mg).

Folate335 mcg DFE84%
Folic Acid200 mcg
Vitamin B12as CyanocobalaminVitamin B-12 (Form: as Cyanocobalamin) Note: USP200 mcg8,333%Vitamin B12 in Cholesterol Essentials against 14,425 products200 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 36 mcg.DV 2.4 mcg200 mcg

Higher than 74% of 14,425 products listing vitamin B12 (median 36 mcg).

BiotinBiotin Note: USP60 mcg20%Biotin in Cholesterol Essentials against 9,447 products60 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mcg to 300 mcg, the median 200 mcg.DV 30 mcg60 mcg

72% of 9,447 products listing biotin give more (median 200 mcg).

Pantothenic Acidas D-Calcium PantothenatePantothenic Acid (Form: as D-Calcium Pantothenate) Note: USP6.2 mg124%Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) in Cholesterol Essentials against 10,060 products6.2 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 6 mg to 50 mg, the median 12 mg.DV 5 mg6.2 mg

75% of 10,060 products listing pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) give more (median 12 mg).

Chromiumas Chromium PicolinateChromium (Form: from Chromax Chromium Picolinate)200 mcg571%Chromium in Cholesterol Essentials against 7,825 products200 mcg per serving; the middle half of products list 45 mcg to 200 mcg, the median 100 mcg.DV 35 mcg200 mcg

Higher than 72% of 7,825 products listing chromium (median 100 mcg).

Commiphora mukulas GuggulsteronesCommiphora mukul (Form: standardized to 2.5 % Guggulsterones) PlantPart: resin Genus: Commiphora Species: mukul500 mgGuggul in Cholesterol Essentials against 279 products500 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 350 mg, the median 100 mg.500 mg

Higher than 83% of 279 products listing guggul (median 100 mg).

Lecithinas SoyLecithin (Form: from Soy)300 mgLecithin in Cholesterol Essentials against 804 products300 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 1,200 mg, the median 200 mg.300 mg

Higher than 53% of 804 products listing lecithin (median 200 mg).

Oat Bran300 mgOats in Cholesterol Essentials against 304 products300 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 500 mg, the median 187.5 mg.300 mg

Higher than 62% of 304 products listing oats (median 187.5 mg).

Phosphatidylcholineas Lecithin, PhosphatidylcholinePhosphatidylcholine (Form: from Lecithin, and Phosphatidylcholine)200 mgPhosphatidylcholine in Cholesterol Essentials against 403 products200 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 35 mg to 420 mg, the median 120 mg.200 mg

Higher than 62% of 403 products listing phosphatidylcholine (median 120 mg).

odor-controlled Garlic150 mgGarlic in Cholesterol Essentials against 1,075 products150 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 500 mg, the median 200 mg.150 mg

51% of 1,075 products listing garlic give more (median 200 mg).

Beta-Sitosterol50 mgBeta Sitosterol in Cholesterol Essentials against 264 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 50 mg to 221.25 mg, the median 100 mg.50 mg

69% of 264 products listing beta sitosterol give more (median 100 mg).

Citrus Bioflavonoids50 mgFlavonoid in Cholesterol Essentials against 2,343 products50 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 25 mg to 100 mg, the median 50 mg.50 mg

46% of 2,343 products listing flavonoid give more (median 50 mg).

Choline BitartrateCholine Bitartrate Note: FCC6.4 mg1%*Choline in Cholesterol Essentials against 4,738 products6.4 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 18 mg to 100 mg, the median 40 mg.DV 550 mgUL 3,500 mg6.4 mg

90% of 4,738 products listing choline give more (median 40 mg).

InositolInositol Note: FCC6.4 mgInositol in Cholesterol Essentials against 4,042 products6.4 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 10 mg to 80 mg, the median 30 mg.6.4 mg

83% of 4,042 products listing inositol give more (median 30 mg).

Paba6.4 mgPABA in Cholesterol Essentials against 1,610 products6.4 mg per serving; the middle half of products list 10 mg to 50 mg, the median 25 mg.6.4 mg

85% of 1,610 products listing PABA give more (median 25 mg).

* % Daily Value computed from the printed amount and the FDA Daily Value (21 CFR 101.9); the label prints none for that row.

Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database, label 175710 (entered April 25, 2018), version 9.4.0. See the label on DSLD. Amounts are what the maker printed; DSLD does not test products. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.

Is that a lot?

The rows in the top or bottom tenth of the products that list the same ingredient, and any above the adult upper limit at the most servings a day the directions give:

  • At 1 serving a day, the most its directions give, the label lists 107 mg of niacin, 3.1 times the adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level.
  • 90% of the 4,738 products that print an amount of choline list more than its 6.4 mg of choline (median 40 mg).

The NIH database records one serving a day from the label's directions; its % Daily Values are for adults and children 4 or more years of age. The directions as printed are further down this page.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level is the most of a nutrient per day, from food, water and supplements together, that is likely to pose no risk for almost all adults (Institute of Medicine, 2011). It does not apply under medical supervision. This page compares labels; it is not medical advice.

Sources: amounts from the DSLD label; Daily Values from 21 CFR 101.9(c)(8)(iv); adult upper limits from the Institute of Medicine's DRI summary tables (2011). How positions are computed.

Which products have the closest formulas?

The products whose ingredient lists overlap most with Cholesterol Essentials's, rare ingredients counting for more.

Source: ingredient lists of every product's current label in DSLD (version 9.4.0); similarity weights each shared ingredient by how rare it is.

What does the label say about taking it?

Quoted from the label as DSLD transcribed it: the maker's words, including any claim about what the product does, which the FDA has not evaluated and PlainVitamins does not endorse.

Directions
Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take two tablets per day with food and water.
Warnings
Do not use if seal is broken.
Keep out of reach of children.
Warning: Do not take this product if you are pregnant or nursing. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you are taking any prescription medications.
Because chromium may enhance sensitivity to insulin and affect glucose levels, diabetics and hypoglycemics should consult their healthcare provider before using this product.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place.

Source: label statements in DSLD label 175710.

What else is on the label?

Other ingredients: Silica, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Stearic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Croscarmellose Sodium, Calcium Carbonate, Food Glaze.

Seals and symbols as the label prints them (the maker's; a certifier's own list confirms a seal): Guaranteed purity & potency.

How many labels does Cholesterol Essentials have?

2 labels are on file under this name since October 21, 2017: other sizes, label designs and reformulations. The current one leads this page.

  1. Label 175710 (current) Entered April 25, 2018 · off the market October 11, 2018 · 120 tablets · UPC 0 87614 07005 6
  2. Label 78136 Entered October 21, 2017 · off the market January 10, 2018 · 120 tablets · UPC 0 87614 07005 6

DSLD also links this label to: Cholesterol Essentials (image difference, same product).

Source: DSLD label entry and market events, version 9.4.0 (labels entered through September 25, 2025).

Who makes it?

The label names Swanson Health Products (distributor), Fargo, ND. All Swanson Condition Specific Formulas products.

Where next?