EFFECTS OF TWO DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF POLICOSANOLS, RED YEAST RICE, PkYTOSTEROLS, EXTRAMEL (R) AND POLYPHENOLS IN LIPID LOWERING AND ENDOTHELIAL PROTECTION: PROSPECTIVE IN CARDIOVASCULAR PRIMARY PREVENTION

Current guidelines recommend the use of lipid lowering agents based on the patient's cardiovascular risk. However numerous evidences demonstrate the presence of atherosclerotic alterations in patients identified as low risk. Molecules capable of acting on lipid metabolism with reduced side effects could be used for early treatment in this type of patients. We have conducted a prospective, open-label randomized controlled parallel group study to compare efficacy and safety of two different lipid lowering nutraceutical compounds: Liposcudil (R) and Lzposcudil PLUS. We selected patient with hypercholesterolemia and a low global cardiovascular risk. We evaluated the effect on lipid profile, inflammatory state and endothelial function. We observed a significant decrease in both group in total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. No significant variations on triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Efficacy on the inflammatory profile, evaluated through measurement of plasmatic high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, oxidized low density lipoprotein and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, was similar between the two group. An improvement of reactive hyperemia index, assessed using EndoPAT 2000 device, was found for both group. These data suggest that nutraceutical compounds are able to significantly improve the lipid and inflammatory profile as well as the endothelial function. No significant side effects were evidenced with this treatment.