Effects of a Combined Nutraceutical on Lipid Pattern, Glucose Metabolism and Inflammatory Parameters in Moderately Hypercholesterolemic Subjects: A Double-blind, Cross-over, Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing interest for combined nutraceuticals that can act on several points of lipid and glucose metabolism with preventive purposes. However, the simple assemblage of nutraceuticals with potentially additive mechanism of action need to be clinically tested. METHODS: To assess the effects of a combination of nutraceuticals based on artichoke, red yeast rice, banaba, and coenzyme Q10, we performed a double bind, cross-over designed trial versus placebo in 30 adults with LDL cholesterol suboptimal in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. After a period of 3 weeks of dietary habits correction, patients began a period of 6 weeks of treatment with nutraceutical or placebo, followed by 2 weeks of washout and finally 6 weeks in cross-over. Data related to lipid pattern, insulin resistance, renal function, liver and CPK have been obtained at each visit. RESULTS: In particular, the after the nutraceutical treatment the enrolled patients experienced a significant improvement in total cholesterol (−13.6 %), LDL-C (−18.2 %), non-HDL-C (−15 %), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (−10 %), glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (−30.9 %), and hs-CRP (−18.2 %) versus placebo. No changes have been observed in the other investigated parameters in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The tested combination of nutraceuticals has shown clinical efficacy in the reduction of total cholesterol, non-HDL, LDL and triglycerides, while improving the level of liver transaminases and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. Further confirmation are needed to verify these observations on the middle and long term with a larger number of subjects.