Ferulic Acid Supplementation Improves Lipid Profiles, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammatory Status in Hyperlipidemic Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Akkarach Bumrungpert, Supathra Lilitchan, Siriporn Tuntipopipat, Nednapis Tirawanchai, Surat Komindr

Journal: Nutrients 2018;10(6):713

PMID: 29865227

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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death. Smoking cessation, regular physical exercise and dietary modification can decrease the risk of developing CVD. Ferulic acid is a compound found in many plant foods with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to evaluate the effect of ferulic acid supplementation, 500mg twice daily for six weeks, on CVD risk markers in patients with hyperlipidaemia (elevated blood lipids). Ferulic acid significantly improved lipid profile, decreased oxidative stress and reduced inflammation compared to placebo. No adverse effects were reported. The authors conclude that ferulic acid supplementation improves lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and inflammatory status in hyperlipidaemic subjects and may lower risk of CVD.

Abstract

Ferulic acid is the most abundant phenolic compound found in vegetables and cereal grains. In vitro and animal studies have shown ferulic acid has anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-oxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of ferulic acid supplementation on lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and inflammatory status in hyperlipidemia. The study design is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects with hyperlipidemia were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group ( = 24) was given ferulic acid (1000 mg daily) and the control group ( = 24) was provided with a placebo for six weeks. Lipid profiles, biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation were assessed before and after the intervention. Ferulic acid supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in total cholesterol (8.1%; = 0.001), LDL-C (9.3%; < 0.001), triglyceride (12.1%; = 0.049), and increased HDL-C (4.3%; = 0.045) compared with the placebo. Ferulic acid also significantly decreased the oxidative stress biomarker, MDA (24.5%; < 0.001). Moreover, oxidized LDL-C was significantly decreased in the ferulic acid group (7.1%; = 0.002) compared with the placebo group. In addition, ferulic acid supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the inflammatory markers hs-CRP (32.66%; < 0.001) and TNF-α (13.06%; < 0.001). These data indicate ferulic acid supplementation can improve lipid profiles and oxidative stress, oxidized LDL-C, and inflammation in hyperlipidemic subjects. Therefore, ferulic acid has the potential to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Address: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. [email protected].; Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. [email protected].; Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand. [email protected].; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand. [email protected].; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. [email protected].

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