Metabolic & Cardiometabolic · Gut & Microbiome
kombucha decreases blood cholesterol
In plain terms: Does kombucha lower cholesterol?
Part of: • kombucha
Only shown in rats. Kombucha improved cholesterol in animal studies, but there are no human trials — so this doesn't yet apply to people.
📅 Last reviewed: 2026-07-15 ⓘ
Evidence ladder
How far up the ladder this claim has climbed. A high consensus on a low rung means "consistent so far," not "proven in people."
Top evidence so far: Human trials (RCT / n-of-1)
How the studies fall
What the evidence shows
Only animal evidence. Kombucha lowered cholesterol and improved lipid markers in hypercholesterolemic and diabetic rats — but there are no human lipid trials, so this doesn't yet apply to people.
The evidence (11)
| Source | Grade | Stance | Quality | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellassoued 2015 · Pharm Biol | animal | supports | low | Hypercholesterolemic rats: kombucha reduced cholesterol and improved liver/kidney markers. |
| Kapp 2019 · Ann Epidemiol | observational | mixed | low | Systematic review: no human lipid trials of kombucha. |
| de Almeida JS et al 2025 · bioRxiv | animal | supports | moderate | HFD mouse model: kombucha alone ↓ LDL-C, hepatic TG, steatosis vs HFD control; no synergy with liraglutide. ANIMAL only. |
| Permatasari 2022 · Clin Nutr ESPEN | animal | mixed | low | Obese rats (combo): improved dyslipidemia (combination product). |
| Lobo 2015 · J Food Sci Technol | animal | mixed | low | Rats: kombucha showed cardioprotective, membrane-stabilising effects on lipids. |
| Ecklu-Mensah G et al 2024 · medRxiv | RCT | contradicts | moderate | 8-wk RCT healthy adults (n=16 kombucha vs n=8 control): HDL reduction seen in CONTROL group, not kombucha; biochemical markers not different between groups. HUMAN. |
| Cohen MM. 2026 · Preprints.org | observational | mixed | moderate | Review cites a 10-wk RCT (overweight adults, energy-restricted diet + green tea kombucha): significant within-group ↓TC, LDL-c, VLDL-c, TG, Castelli-II. HUMAN (secondary report of RCT, not primary source). |
| Urrutia 2021 · Heliyon | animal | contradicts | low | Cafeteria-diet rats: kombucha (with green-banana flour) did NOT prevent diet-induced lipid changes (null). |
| Aloulou 2012 · BMC Complement Altern Med | animal | supports | low | Diabetic rats: kombucha showed antilipidemic effects. |
| Lobo 2017 · J Microsc Ultrastruct | animal | supports | low | Rats: kombucha ('Bio-tea') protected against isoproterenol-induced myocardial and lipid injury. |
| Gashti RZ et al 2026 · study_type: animal | animal | supports | low | HFD mouse NAFLD model: Medusomyces gisevii (kombucha SCOBY) extract supplementation improved TC/LDL/HDL vs HFD alone. ANIMAL only, extract not beverage. |
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