Nutraceutical Combination in Patients With Low-grade Systemic Inflammation
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
The investigators tested if a nutraceutical combination with red yeast rice, berberine and policosanol (NC) can significantly modify inflammation, lipid profile and markers of endothelial injury (endothelial microparticles) in subjects with elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).
Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
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Phase 4 |
Detailed Description
Will be included in the study 100 subjects with suboptimal LDL cholesterol levels (LDL 100-160 mg / dL) and hsCRP levels> 2 mg / L, divided into two groups of equal numbers, matched by by sex and age, randomized to receive a nutraceutical combination containing red yeast 200 mg, berberine 500 mg and policosanol 10 mg (NC) in combination with a low-cholesterol diet (<200 mg / day) or a low-cholesterol diet only (Standard of Care - SOC).
All subjects at the time of inclusion in the study protocol will be prescribed the SOC for a period of 30 days (Lipid Stabilization Period: LSP); After 30 days LSP it will be performed randomization in the two intervention arms: NC + SOC or SOC.
Study Design
Arms and Interventions
Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
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Placebo Comparator: Standard of Care + Placebo low-cholesterol/low-saturated fat diet and a regular aerobic physical activity schedule + once daily placebo |
Other: Standard of Care
low-cholesterol/low-saturated fat diet and regular aerobic physical activity schedule
Other: Placebo
placebo
|
Active Comparator: Nutraceutical combination low-cholesterol/low-saturated fat diet and a regular aerobic physical activity schedule + Nutraceutical combination |
Dietary Supplement: Nutraceutical Combination
red yeast rice extract 200 mg (equivalent to 3 mg monacolins), policosanol 10 mg, berberine 500 mg, 0.2 mg folic acid, coenzyme Q10 2 mg, and astaxanthin 0.5 mg once daily
Other Names:
Other: Standard of Care
low-cholesterol/low-saturated fat diet and regular aerobic physical activity schedule
|
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
- Change from Baseline in LDL cholesterol at 3 months [3 months after treatment randomization]
Secondary Outcome Measures
- Change from Baseline in Circulating endothelial microparticles at 3 months [3 months after treatment randomization]
- Change from Baseline in C-reactive protein at 3 months [3 months after treatment randomization]
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
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LDL cholesterol <160 mg/dl (4,14 mmol/l);
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hsCRP >2 mg/L;
Exclusion Criteria:
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triglycerides >500 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L);
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current or previous treatment with lipid-lowering drugs or with other drugs supposed to modify vascular damage and/or repair (antiplatelet, anti-hypertensive and antioxidant drugs);
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current or previous treatment with hormone replacement therapy for menopause vasomotor symptoms;
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evidence of liver dysfunction or alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) levels twice above the upper normal limit;
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creatin-kinase (CK) levels thrice above the upper normal limit
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history or clinical evidence of previous or current cardiovascular disease;
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presence of strong cardiovascular risk factors such as: serum creatinine levels >2 mg/dL, diabetes mellitus, uncontrolled systemic arterial hypertension (systolic blood pressure >190 mg/dL or diastolic blood pressure >100 mg/dL); history of cancer in the former 5 years before recruitment; not adequately treated hypothyroidism (TSH levels
1,5 times the upper normal limit);
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history of malignancy in the previous 5 years before screening;
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not adequately treated hypothyroidism (TSH levels >1,5 times the upper normal limit);
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previous or current alcohol or drugs abuse;
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history or clinical evidence of chronic inflammatory disease such as severe arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or chronic inflammatory bowel disease;
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current or previous use of immunosuppressant agents or long term glucocorticoids
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history or clinical evidence of any severe concomitant disease which may compromise subject's safety or its possibility to carry out the study.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
No locations specified.Sponsors and Collaborators
- University Of Perugia
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Matteo Pirro, MD, PhD, University of Perugia, Italy
Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Affuso F, Ruvolo A, Micillo F, Saccà L, Fazio S. Effects of a nutraceutical combination (berberine, red yeast rice and policosanols) on lipid levels and endothelial function randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Nov;20(9):656-61. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2009.05.017. Epub 2009 Aug 20.
- Gerli R, Sherer Y, Vaudo G, Schillaci G, Gilburd B, Giordano A, Bocci EB, Allegrucci R, Marchesi S, Mannarino E, Shoenfeld Y. Early atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis: effects of smoking on thickness of the carotid artery intima media. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Jun;1051:281-90.
- Gerli R, Vaudo G, Bocci EB, Schillaci G, Alunno A, Luccioli F, Hijazi R, Mannarino E, Shoenfeld Y. Functional impairment of the arterial wall in primary Sjögren's syndrome: combined action of immunologic and inflammatory factors. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010 May;62(5):712-8. doi: 10.1002/acr.20117.
- McGorrian C, Yusuf S, Islam S, Jung H, Rangarajan S, Avezum A, Prabhakaran D, Almahmeed W, Rumboldt Z, Budaj A, Dans AL, Gerstein HC, Teo K, Anand SS; INTERHEART Investigators. Estimating modifiable coronary heart disease risk in multiple regions of the world: the INTERHEART Modifiable Risk Score. Eur Heart J. 2011 Mar;32(5):581-9. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehq448. Epub 2010 Dec 22.
- Pirro M, Bergeron J, Dagenais GR, Bernard PM, Cantin B, Després JP, Lamarche B. Age and duration of follow-up as modulators of the risk for ischemic heart disease associated with high plasma C-reactive protein levels in men. Arch Intern Med. 2001 Nov 12;161(20):2474-80.
- Pirro M, Schillaci G, Bagaglia F, Menecali C, Paltriccia R, Mannarino MR, Capanni M, Velardi A, Mannarino E. Microparticles derived from endothelial progenitor cells in patients at different cardiovascular risk. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Apr;197(2):757-67. Epub 2007 Aug 27.
- Pirro M, Schillaci G, Paltriccia R, Bagaglia F, Menecali C, Mannarino MR, Capanni M, Velardi A, Mannarino E. Increased ratio of CD31+/CD42- microparticles to endothelial progenitors as a novel marker of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemia. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006 Nov;26(11):2530-5. Epub 2006 Aug 31.
- Ridker PM, Rifai N, Clearfield M, Downs JR, Weis SE, Miles JS, Gotto AM Jr; Air Force/Texas Coronary Atherosclerosis Prevention Study Investigators. Measurement of C-reactive protein for the targeting of statin therapy in the primary prevention of acute coronary events. N Engl J Med. 2001 Jun 28;344(26):1959-65.
- St-Pierre AC, Cantin B, Bergeron J, Pirro M, Dagenais GR, Després JP, Lamarche B. Inflammatory markers and long-term risk of ischemic heart disease in men A 13-year follow-up of the Quebec Cardiovascular Study. Atherosclerosis. 2005 Oct;182(2):315-21.
- UPerugia01