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Nutraceuticals: Definition and Epidemiological Rationale for Their Use in Clinical Practice

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Abstract

Cardiometabolic risk factors, such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and arterial hypertension, are major predictors of the premature development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Since CVD prevention needs a life-course approach, beyond dietary and pharmacological treatment, non-pharmacological treatment should be considered an important alternative for patients in primary prevention with mild–moderate cardiometabolic risk factors at low-moderate global risk of CVD. Several functional foods and nutraceuticals are efficacious, safe and well tolerated. However, only some (monacolins of red yeast rice and omega-3 fatty acids) have showed, in long-term randomized clinical trials, a reduction of cardiovascular events.

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Correspondence to Roberto Volpe.

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XXXI National Congress of the Italian Society of Hypertension (SIIA), Bologna, October 09–11 2014.

Symposium: Nutraceutical approach for blood pressure control.

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Volpe, R., Sotis, G. Nutraceuticals: Definition and Epidemiological Rationale for Their Use in Clinical Practice. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 22, 199–201 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40292-015-0092-5

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