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A Nutraceutical Phytocomplex of Extracts from Citrus Bergamia and Opuntia Ficus-Indica Improves Lipid Profile in Subjects with Mild Hypercholesterolemia: A Pilot Study

Author(s):

Ugo Di Folco*, Noemi Vallecorsa, Elena Massari and Claudio Tubili

Background: During the last decades, the role of lipid-lowering nutraceuticals in cardiovascular disease prevention is gathering attention.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dietary supplement with a combination of mediterranean extracts, on the plasmatic lipid profile in adults with mild hypercholesterolemia.

Materials and Methods: Eighty subjects divided in two groups: the control group was instructed to follow a personalized diet and physical activity; whereas the treated group was instructed to follow an individualized diet, physical activity and a daily intake of a food supplement based on mediterranean extracts (200 mg of a phytocomplex from bergamot fruit standardized min 40% total flavonoids and min 5% in HMG (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl) flavanones, 150 mg of Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes’ extract, 400 mg of plant sterols, and 12.5 mg of thiamine). 1 tablet per day was administered in the evening for 16 weeks. All subjects were evaluated on their anthropometric parameters, lipids panel, and inflammatory profiles, at three different time points such as: at baseline (T0), after 8 weeks (T1) and after 16 weeks (T2).

Results: Following the 8 and 16-weeks supplementation, a significant reduction of several metabolic parameters was observed: LDL-c -18.2% at T1, and -23.4% at T2; Tot-c -9.0% at T1, and -12.6% at T2; TG -11.8% at t1, -18.2% at T2; while HDL-c significantly increased +21.3% at T1 and +24.8% at T2.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the supplementation of the mediterranean extracts’ complex improves the lipid profile in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia.


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