Cited by 110Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthNatural Products and Biological ResearchComplementary and Alternative Medicine Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 110 of the 110 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 1 of the 60 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Nutraceuticals in the Management of Dyslipidemia: Which, When, and for Whom? Could Nutraceuticals Help Low-Risk Individuals with Non-optimal Lipid Levels?

Open access
Cicero, Arrigo F. G., Fogacci, Federica, Stoian, Anca Pantea, Vrablik, Michal, Al Rasadi, Khalid, Banach, Maciej, Toth, Peter P., Rizzo, Manfredi·2021·Current Atherosclerosis Reports

Abstract

Purpose of Review: The aim of this review is to summarize the available clinical efficacy and safety data related to the most studied and used lipid-lowering nutraceuticals. Recent Findings: A growing number of meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials supports the effectiveness and tolerability of some lipid-lowering nutraceuticals such as red yeast rice, plant sterols and stanols, soluble fibers, berberine, artichoke extracts, bergamot polyphenol fraction, garlic, green tea, and spiruline. No significant safety concern has been raised for the use of such products. Association of more lipid-lowering nutraceuticals and of some nutraceuticals with lipid-lowering drugs has been tested as well. Summary: Current evidence suggests that some clinically tested lipid-lowering nutraceuticals could be safely used to improve plasma lipid levels in subjects affected by mild-to-moderate dyslipidaemia with low cardiovascular risk.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review summarizes clinical efficacy and safety data for the most studied lipid-lowering nutraceuticals, concluding that some can safely improve plasma lipids in low-CV-risk subjects with mild-to-moderate dyslipidemia. It stresses that nutraceuticals should not replace guideline-indicated drugs and that primary-prevention outcome evidence is still lacking.

Key findings

  • Plant sterols/stanols: a meta-analysis of 124 studies (201 strata) found an average LDL-C reduction of 12%, increasing up to intakes of approximately 3 g/day; combined with statins, they produced an additional LDL-C reduction of 0.30 mmol/L (95% CI −0.35 to −0.25) versus statins alone.
  • Red yeast rice (RYR): a meta-analysis of 20 RCTs found LDL-C reduction of 1.02 mmol/L (39.4 mg/dL) versus placebo, not different from moderate-intensity statins; in a Chinese trial of 1445 patients aged 65–75 with prior myocardial infarction followed for a mean of 4 years, RYR reduced CHD risk by 31.0% (p = 0.04), all-cause mortality by 31.9% (p = 0.01), and stroke by 44.1% (p = 0.04). A safety meta-analysis of 53 RCTs (8535 subjects) found monacolin K was not associated with increased muscle-related side effects (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.53–1.65) and was associated with reduced non-muscle-related side effects (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.50–0.69) and serious adverse events (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.46–0.64).
  • Berberine: a meta-analysis of 27 clinical studies with 2569 participants found LDL-C −0.65 mmol/L (25.14 mg/dL), TG −0.39 mmol/L (34.5 mg/dL), and HDL-C +0.07 mmol/L (2.71 mg/dL); effects appeared additive to statins.
  • Other agents: artichoke extract in a meta-analysis of 9 RCTs (702 subjects) reduced TC by 17.6 mg/dL, LDL-C by 14.9 mg/dL, and TG by 9.2 mg/dL; omega-3 EPA/DHA in a meta-analysis of 47 RCTs (16,511 participants) at an average 3.25 g/day reduced TG by 14% (−0.34 mmol/L); spirulina in a meta-analysis of 7 trials reduced LDL-C by 1.1 mmol/L, TC by 1.2 mmol/L, TG by 0.5 mmol/L, and increased HDL-C by 0.16 mmol/L.

Methods

  • Narrative review of available clinical efficacy and safety data for the most studied lipid-lowering nutraceuticals, classified by mechanism: inhibitors of intestinal cholesterol absorption, inhibitors of hepatic cholesterol synthesis, enhancers of LDL-C excretion, and mixed-mechanism agents.
  • Evidence base consists of meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials and individual randomized trials, including studies of nutraceutical combinations and combinations with lipid-lowering drugs; no primary patient data were collected.
  • No systematic search strategy, inclusion criteria, or formal risk-of-bias assessment is described in the text.

Limitations

  • The paper states there are still no outcome studies proving that nutraceuticals can prevent CVD morbidity or mortality in a primary prevention setting; clinical relevance, long-term maintenance of effects, and impact on CVD risk remain concerns.
  • The paper states most nutraceutical combinations have been tested only in a single study/RCT, some tested combinations contained underdosed components, and results have not been confirmed, so recommendations cannot be made.
  • Evident from the text: this is a narrative review without a described systematic search or quality appraisal, and many conclusions rely on heterogeneous meta-analyses and trials, with efficacy and safety often specific to particular products, doses, or populations.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1007/s11883-021-00955-y

Cites

110 of 110 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Fig. 1 Possible lipid-lowering nutraceuticals and drugs association to improve plasma lipid control in humans
Fig. 1 Possible lipid-lowering nutraceuticals and drugs association to improve plasma lipid control in humansCC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

52 Not checked yet · 11 Own interpretation · 4 No basis given · 1 Partly supported · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 59 references — free account

Show all 42 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 23
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 2
26 of 26
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The available data are sufficient to detect serious safety concerns of the evaluated nutraceutical combinations.

    “Based on the available data, no serious safety concerns have been observed.”
1 of 1

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Self-check

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Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

3 of 3

Citations

Cites

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. EFSA. Scientific Opinion on the risks for public and animal health related to the presence of citrinin in food and feed. EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM). European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy. EFSA J. 2012;10(3):2605.
  2. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products NaAN Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to EPA, DHA, DPA and maintenance of normal blood pressure (ID 502), maintenance of normal HDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 515), maintenance of normal (fasting) blood concentrations of triglycerides (ID 517), maintenance of normal LDL-cholesterol concentrations (ID 528, 698) and maintenance of joints (ID 503, 505, 507, 511, 518, 524, 526, 535, 537) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. EFSA J. 2009;7:1263–1289.

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Metadata

Authors
Cicero, A. F. G., Fogacci, F., Stoian, A. P., Vrablik, M., Al Rasadi, K., Banach, M., Toth, P. P., & Rizzo, M.
Affiliations
  • IRCCS Azienda Ospedliero-Universitaria di Bologna Policlinico di Sant'Orsola (IT)
  • University of Bologna (IT)
  • Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy (RO)
  • Medical University of Lodz (PL)
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Cicero, Arrigo F. G.
Venue
Current Atherosclerosis Reports
Published
2021-08-04
Volume
23
Issue
10
Pages
57-57
ISSN
  • 1523-3804 (ISSN-L)
  • 1534-6242
OpenAlex
W3190295594
Cited by
110
References
110
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 3
FWCI
4.70
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Atherosclerosis Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Nova Science Publishers (Nova Science Publishers, Inc.) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Natural Products and Biological Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies
Keywords
nutraceuticals, dyslipidemia, lipid-lowering drugs, red yeast rice, soluble dietary fiber, berberine, artichoke extract, garlic, green tea, low cardiovascular risk, plasma lipids, safety and tolerability
MeSH terms
Hypolipidemic Agents, Humans, Lipids, Phytosterols, Dietary Supplements, Dyslipidemias

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