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Testing the Short-Term Efficacy of a Lipid-Lowering Nutraceutical in the Setting of Clinical Practice: A Multicenter Study.
Cicero, AF, Derosa, G, Pisciotta, L, Barbagallo, C, ,
Journal of medicinal food. 2015;(11):1270-3
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Abstract
The main guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention suggest that nutraceuticals could be an efficacious tool to improve lipid pattern. Our aim was to carry out a clinical trial comparing the metabolic effects of a combined nutraceutical containing both red yeast rice and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and a phytosterol-based approach in a setting of clinical practice. This was a multicenter open study with parallel control. We consecutively enrolled 107 pharmacologically untreated subjects affected by primary polygenic hypercholesterolemia and metabolic syndrome, assigned to 8-week treatment with a combined treatment with red yeast rice (Dif1Stat(®), including 5 mg monacolin K) and 610 mg PUFAs. A parallel group of 30 subjects with similar characteristics was treated with phytosterols 1600 mg/die. In the combined nutraceutical group, compared with the baseline level, we observed a significant decrease in total cholesterol (TC; -42.50 ± 18.1 mg/dL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; -37.6 ± 13.6 mg/dL), triglycerides (TG; -19.8 ± 25.1 mg/dL), and non-HDL-C (-43.1 ± 17.7 mg/dL) (all P < .001). In the phytosterol-treated group, compared to the baseline level, we observed a significant decrease in TC (-13.7 ± 4.3 mg/dL), LDL-C (-17.6 ± 8.5 mg/dL), and non-HDL-C (-14.1 ± 5.6 mg/dL) (all P < .001). When comparing the combined nutraceutical effect with that of phytosterols, we observed that the combined nutraceutical intake was associated with a significantly higher decrease in TC, LDL-C, TG, and non-HDL-C (all P < .001). In the short term, a combined nutraceutical containing red yeast rice and PUFAs is well tolerated and efficacious in reducing plasma lipid levels in subjects affected by primary polygenic hypercholesterolemia and metabolic syndrome.
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Effects of aerobic exercise on lipid profiles and high molecular weight adiponectin in Japanese workers.
Guo, W, Kawano, H, Piao, L, Itoh, N, Node, K, Sato, T
Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan). 2011;(5):389-95
Abstract
BACKGROUND The metabolic syndrome is characterized by the accumulation of several metabolic risk factors. It is important to improve physical activity and dietary habits to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in humans. METHODS The study participants participated in a weekly aerobic exercise program that included a session composed of a brief meeting, warm-up exercises, and primary exercises (low and high impact, stretch, muscle training, and cooling down). To evaluate the effect of this intervention we measured body fat composition, holding power, and quality of life assessment. Blood tests were also carried out before and every 3 months during the study. RESULTS Of the 37 participants enrolled in the exercise group, 31 (83.8%) completed the 12-week program. The control group consisted of 42 subjects, 36 (85.7%) of whom were available for follow-up at the end of the 12-week study period. In the exercise group, weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, the World Health Organization quality of life 26 (WHO-QOL 26) score, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol had improved significantly at the end of three months. The high molecular weight adiponectin concentration of the participants in the exercise group increased during the 9-month period of the study, although this change did not reach statistical significance compared with pre-exercise. CONCLUSION Aerobic exercise led to an improvement in body composition and lipid profiles. High molecular weight adiponectin concentrations tended to improve compared with pre-aerobic exercise levels.