Giuseppe Derosa^{1, 2,}, Giovanni Gaudio³, Angela D’Angelo^{1, 2}, Pamela Maffioli¹

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in lipid profile, both at fasting and after an oral fat load (OFL), after 3 months of assumption of a nutraceutical containing monacolin K 2.94 mg, and other components as Cynara scolymus, Oryza sativa L., Brassica campestris L., folic acid, coenzyme Q10, and resveratrol compared to placebo in hypercholesterolemic patients in primary prevention. One hundred Caucasian patients were randomized to the nutraceutical or placebo for 3 months, an oral fat load was performed at baseline and at the trial end. Nutraceutical reduced total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (Tg), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), both compared to baseline, and to placebo. High sensitivity C-reactive protein decreased in the nutraceutical group both compared to baseline and to placebo. During the OFL performed after 3 months, there were lower levels of TC, and LDL-C compared to the OFL performed at baseline. TC, and LDL-C values were lowers also compared to placebo group at every time of OFL. Tg value recorded during the OFL at the end of the study was lower at 6 hours compared to baseline OFL, and placebo. The nutraceutical could be effective in improving lipid profile both at fasting and in a post-prandial condition.

monascus purpureus, brassica campestris l., cynara scolymus, oryza sativa l., polygenic hypercholesterolemia, lipid profile