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The Effects of a New Generation of Nutraceutical Compounds on Lipid Profile and Glycaemia in Subjects with Pre-hypertension

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Abstract

Introducion

Treatment strategies for patients with pre-hypertension and low–moderate cardiovascular (CV) risk may include nutraceutical compounds (NCs).

Aim

To investigate the efficacy and safety of a new-generation of NC in lowering BP values and improving metabolic profile, in a group of hyper-cholesterolemic subjects with pre-hypertension.

Methods

131 subjects with pre-hypertension (systolic BP 130–139 mmHg and/or diastolic BP 85–89 mmHg) without organ damage and history of CV diseases were enrolled. 66 subjects were treated with a once-daily oral formulation of a NC (red yeast rice, Berberine, Coenzyme Q10, folic acid and chrome) added to diet for 3 months, while 65 patients followed a diet only. Differences in serum total cholesterol (TC), low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC and HDLC), triglycerides (TG), glycemia, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated.

Results

At the end of treatment, significant reductions of TC, LDLC, TG glucose levels were observed in both treatment groups, while HDLC values increased in the active treatment group only. A greater reduction of TC, LDLC and glycemia was observed in the treatment group. TG levels were not different within the two groups. BP and BMI levels remained unchanged, as well AST, ALT; CPK slightly increased in both groups, but it remained in the normal range.

Conclusions

In patients with pre-hypertension, NC supplementation was safe, well tolerated and effective in improving lipid pattern and glucose levels and in preventing the progression to overt hypertension.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Maria Carla Marrè Brunenghi for the technical assistance during the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine Unit, ESH Excellence Hypertension Centre, Santa Maria della Misericordia General Hospital, AULSS 5 Polesana, Viale Tre Martiri 140, 45100, Rovigo, Italy

    Alberto Mazza

  2. Italian Nutraceutical Society (SINut), Triveneto Area, Rovigo, Italy

    Alberto Mazza

  3. Department of Medicine, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, AULSS 5 Polesana, Rovigo, Italy

    Laura Schiavon

  4. Interventional Cardiology Unit, Division of Cardiology, S. Maria della Misericordia Hospital, AULSS 5 Polesana, Rovigo, Italy

    Gianluca Rigatelli

  5. Unit of Internal Medicine C, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Gioia Torin

  6. Hypertension Centre and Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, San Donato Hospital, USL 8, Arezzo, Italy

    Salvatore Lenti

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  1. Alberto Mazza
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  2. Laura Schiavon
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  3. Gianluca Rigatelli
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  4. Gioia Torin
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  5. Salvatore Lenti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alberto Mazza.

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of interest

The authors’ declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study protocol was approved by local Ethics Committee and institutional review boards and conducted in accordance with ICH Harmonized Tripartite Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice and the Declaration of Helsinki Principles.

Informed consent

All patients gave informed consent for the study participation.

Additional information

This article is part of the topical collection on Nutraceuticals in Hypertension & Cardiovascular Prevention.

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Mazza, A., Schiavon, L., Rigatelli, G. et al. The Effects of a New Generation of Nutraceutical Compounds on Lipid Profile and Glycaemia in Subjects with Pre-hypertension. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 26, 345–350 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-019-00332-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-019-00332-6

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