By Joanna Cosgrove

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming an average of 600,000 lives annually, according the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of the 71 million American adults diagnosed (33.5 percent) with high cholesterol (a level higher than 200 mg/dL) only one out of every three has the condition under control. Worse yet, less than half of adults with high LDL cholesterol get treatment which can double their risk of developing heart disease.

Though pharmaceutical statins are typically prescribed to manage high cholesterol, continued concerns about potential side effects and product recalls have compelled consumers to increasingly investigate natural cholesterol and cardiovascular health solutions. While products featuring omega-3 continue to lead the charge as ingredients of choice in this category, market researchers have uncovered fascinating consumer insights on who these core customers are; their attitudes toward health maintenance, their dietary supplement inclinations and their preferred supplement delivery formats.

Inside the Cholesterol Market Digital Pulse you’ll find:

For more on ingredients to support healthy cholesterol levels, check out INSIDER's image gallery "Ingredients for Healthy Cholesterol Levels."