Effects of a Novel Nutraceutical Combination (Aquilea Colesterol ® ) on the Lipid Profile and Inflammatory Biomarkers: A Randomized Control Trial

• Published in: Nutrients Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 949
• Main Authors: Domenech, Mònica, Casas, Rosa, Ruiz-León, Ana Maria, Sobrino, Javier, Ros, Emilio, Estruch, Ramon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26.04.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Aged; Apolipoprotein B; Aquilea Colesterol; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Blood pressure; C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cholesterol; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Drug Combinations; Female; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; Humans; hydroxytyrosol; Hypercholesterolemia; Inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Interleukin 6; Lipids; Lipids - blood; Low density lipoprotein; Male; Middle Aged; Muscles; nutraceuticals; Phytosterols; Plasma; Questionnaires; red yeast rice; Renal function; Statins; Sterols; Triglycerides; vitamin E; Yeasts; Aquilea Colesterol; C-reactive protein; phytosterols; nutraceuticals; vitamin E; hydroxytyrosol; red yeast rice; hypercholesterolemia
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu11050949

Cholesterol-lowering nutraceuticals are useful in the management of moderate hypercholesterolemia. In a parallel-group, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind trial we evaluated the effects on plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and inflammatory biomarkers of a nutraceutical combination (Aquilea Colesterol ) containing phytosterols (1.5 g), red yeast rice providing monacolin K (10 mg), hydroxytyrosol (5 mg), and plasma cholesterol values >5.17 mmol/L (>200 mg/dL) and LDL-c >2.97 mmol/L (>115 mg/dL). At baseline and at one and three months we recorded dietary habits; anthropometric parameters; blood pressure; lipid profile; fasting glucose; liver, renal, and muscle function tests, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP); and interleukin-6. 13 men and 27 women (mean age 61.8 years) completed the trial; 20 participants received the nutraceutical and 20 received placebo. No adverse effects were noted. Compared to placebo, at one and three months the nutraceutical reduced total cholesterol by 11.4% and 14.1%, LDL-c by 19.8% and 19.7%, and apolipoprotein B by 12.4% and 13.5%, respectively ( < 0.001; all). hs-CRP decreased significantly ( = 0.021) in the nutraceutical group. The nutraceutical Aquilea Colesterol is useful for reducing total cholesterol, LDL-c, and inflammation in individuals with moderate hypercholesterolemia.