Which supplement works better to increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels: alpha-linolenic acid or pine bark extract?

Ratings at a Glance

Supplement	Effectiveness Rating	Confidence Rating
Alpha-Linolenic Acid
Pine Bark Extract

Effectiveness Rating: Alpha-Linolenic Acid vs Pine Bark Extract

The effectiveness rating is a measure of the supplements' ability to increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This rating answers the question of whether or not a supplement does what it claims. The evidence shows pine bark extract is better than alpha-linolenic acid in its ability to increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. Pine Bark Extract should provide some positive results while alpha-linolenic acid will not.

Confidence Rating: Alpha-Linolenic Acid vs Pine Bark Extract

Another factor to take into account when comparing supplements is the confidence rating. This rating is a measure of how valid each supplement's effectiveness rating is. Remember, the confidence rating is a measure of how much you can trust the effectiveness rating. This rating is based on how many studies are included in the database on a supplement's claims. Ideally, you want a high effectiveness AND confidence rating.

Both alpha-linolenic acid and pine bark extract have low confidence ratings. This means neither supplement has an adequate amount of research to back up this claim. A low confidence rating questions the validity of the effectiveness rating.