1. The present study examined the efficacy of Chlorophytum borivilianum root (powder) in modulating the hyperlipaemic/hypercholesteraemic conditions in male albino rats. 2. Administration of C. borivilianum (0.75 and 1.5 g root powder/rat per day for 4 weeks) to hypercholesteraemic rats significantly increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and decreased plasma and hepatic lipid profiles. 3. In addition, there were significant increases in faecal cholesterol, neutral sterol and bile acid excretion with elevated hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity and bile acid production. 4. Furthermore, the hypercholesteraemic rats treated with both doses of C. borivilianum also exhibited increases in superoxide dismutase and ascorbic acid levels. 5. Normocholesteraemic animals treated with both doses of C. borivilianum root powder did not show any significant variation in either lipid or anti-oxidant profiles, except for an increase in the hepatic ascorbic acid concentration compared with their untreated counterparts. 6. The hypolipaemic/hypocholesteraemic effect of C. borivilianum root powder appears to be mediated by an increase in cholesterol turnover via increased faecal cholesterol excretion and, second, through an endogenous cholesterol conversion into bile acid. 7. Administration of C. borivilianum root powder also increased the activities of anti-oxidant enzymes and vitamin C levels, which may have enhanced the anti-oxidant capacity of the liver.

PURPOSE:This study describes the association between frequency of bicycling for active transportation and modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) metropolitan area.

DESIGN:We conducted an online survey from a convenience sample of likely bicycle commuters.

SETTING:Participants were e-mailed invitations including a link to the online survey.

PARTICIPANTS:Participants (n = 1450, 15.6% response rate) were residents of the 7-county MSP metropolitan area aged 20 to 64 years.

MEASURES:Participants reported frequency of commute and destination cycling from April to September and October to March, prevalent cardiometabolic risk factors, and demographic covariates.

ANALYSIS:We performed logistic regressions for associations between average weekly transportation bicycling and self-reported prevalent obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high triglycerides. We used Poisson regression for the count of cardiometabolic risk factors. All models were adjusted for age, sex, race, smoking, alcohol consumption, and other physical activity, with random intercepts by zip code.

RESULTS:Self-reported bicycling frequency is associated with significantly lower odds of prevalent obesity, hypertension, and high triglycerides. Three bicycling trips per week is associated with 20% fewer (95% confidence interval: 12%-28%) cardiometabolic risk factors.

CONCLUSION:Bicycling frequency is inversely associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. These results provide empirical support for the promotion of active transportation as public health policy.

The aim of this work is to characterize the primary structure and physicochemical properties of natural polysaccharides (GLP) and degraded polysaccharides (GLP) from Ganoderma lucidum, and evaluate their hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities. The results of particle size distribution and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides were effectively degraded by ultrasonic method. GLPwas composed of the same monosaccharide units as GLP but with different molar ratios. Infrared spectra and NMR showed that the primary structure of polysaccharides had not been changed by ultrasonic degradation. Meanwhile, the thermal stability of polysaccharides increased after ultrasonic treatment. After administration by GLP and GLPfour weeks, body weight, visceral index, atherosclerosis index (AI) and biochemical indicators in serum and in liver were determined. The results showed that GLPhad stronger hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities than GLP. GLPwas more effective than the GLP for reducing AI, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), raising high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) (p < 0.01), reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as increasing the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in mice serum, increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and reducing MDA content in liver (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). In addition, the histopathological observations of mice livers showed that GLPcould significantly improve lipid metabolism disorder in hepatocytes. Thus, GLPmight be tested as a more effective hypolipidemic drug.

Citrus bergamia Risso et Poiteau ("Bergamot") originated from the Mediterranean ecoregion (southern Italy, Calabria). Bergamot essential oil (BEO) is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and for stress reduction. Juice from C. bergamia has been used for hyperlipidemia. We evaluated literature published on C. bergamia clinical applications. Clinical trials on C. bergamia not combined with other substances, published in English, were searched. We selected ten articles, six describing BEO effects on stress, three reporting effects of polyphenolic fraction of C. bergamia juice in hyperlipidemia and the last describing BEO effects in chronic psoriasis. Clinical studies were analyzed following Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials for herbal therapy. Studies were conducted on small sample sizes and not havehigh quality level. Analysis indicates that BEO aromatherapy could be safe and useful to reduce stress symptoms. One study suggests its potential supportive role in ultraviolet B therapy against psoriasis. Supplementation with polyphenols from bergamot juice reduces plasma lipids and improves lipoprotein profile in moderate hyperlipidemia. Effectiveness and safety of C. bergamia cannot be definitively drawn because of publication bias and low quality level of the majority of studies. Further large-scale trials with rigorous design are required to define the role of C. bergamia in clinicalpractice. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley&Sons, Ltd.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture therapy combined with Lipitor in the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia (spleen deficiency and food stagnation type).

METHODS:Sixty primary hyperlipidemia patients (spleen deficiency and food stagnation type) were equally randomized into medication group and acupuncture plus medication group. Patients of both groups were treated by oral administration of Lipitor (20 mg/tablet, one tablet per day) for 6 weeks. Manual acupuncture stimulation was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Zhongwan (CV 12), and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yin-lingquan (SP 9) and Fenglong (ST 40) for 40 min, twice daily for 6 weeks except the weekends. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected by using a full-automatic biochemistry analyzer before and after the treatment. The therapeutic effect was assessed according to the standards described in"Guide Principles for Clinical Researches of New Chinese Herbal Drugs".

RESULTS:After the treatment, the levels of serum TC, TG of the two groups were significantly decreased in comparison with pre-treatment in the same one group (P<0.05), and the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture+medication group was significantly superior to that of simple medication group in lowering serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels and heightening HDL-C levels (P<0.05). Of the two 30 cases in the medication and acupuncture+medication groups, 2 (6.7%) and 7 (23.3%) were basically controlled in their blood-lipid levels, 10 (33.3%) and 15 (50.0%) had a marked improvement, 10 (33.3%) and 6 (20.0%) were improved, and 8 (26.7%) and 2 (6.7%) were invalid, with the effective rates being 73.3% and 93.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION:Acupuncture combined with administration of Lipitor is effective in improving primary hyperlipidemia in patients, which is superior to administration of simple Lipitor.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture therapy combined with Lipitor in the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia (spleen deficiency and food stagnation type).

METHODS:Sixty primary hyperlipidemia patients (spleen deficiency and food stagnation type) were equally randomized into medication group and acupuncture plus medication group. Patients of both groups were treated by oral administration of Lipitor (20 mg/tablet, one tablet per day) for 6 weeks. Manual acupuncture stimulation was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Zhongwan (CV 12), and bilateral Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Yin-lingquan (SP 9) and Fenglong (ST 40) for 40 min, twice daily for 6 weeks except the weekends. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected by using a full-automatic biochemistry analyzer before and after the treatment. The therapeutic effect was assessed according to the standards described in"Guide Principles for Clinical Researches of New Chinese Herbal Drugs".

RESULTS:After the treatment, the levels of serum TC, TG of the two groups were significantly decreased in comparison with pre-treatment in the same one group (P<0.05), and the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture+medication group was significantly superior to that of simple medication group in lowering serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels and heightening HDL-C levels (P<0.05). Of the two 30 cases in the medication and acupuncture+medication groups, 2 (6.7%) and 7 (23.3%) were basically controlled in their blood-lipid levels, 10 (33.3%) and 15 (50.0%) had a marked improvement, 10 (33.3%) and 6 (20.0%) were improved, and 8 (26.7%) and 2 (6.7%) were invalid, with the effective rates being 73.3% and 93.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSION:Acupuncture combined with administration of Lipitor is effective in improving primary hyperlipidemia in patients, which is superior to administration of simple Lipitor.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) and acupuncture (A) on the proliferation of stem cells in the subependymal zone (SPZ) of the lateral ventricle and the frontal lobe cortex in hyperlipemia(HL) combined with cerebral ischemia (CI) rats. METHODS: A total of 72 male SD rats were randomized into control, HL, HL+EA, CI, CI+A, HL+CI, HL+CI+EA I and HL+CI+EA II groups (n=9 /group). HL model was established by feeding the animals with high fat forage for 6 weeks and CI model was established by FeCl3-induced occlusion of the unilateral middle cerebral artery. EA was applied to "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) once daily for 17 days for HL+ EA group; and acupuncture to "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Shuigou" (GV 26) once daily for 7 days for CI + A group. For HL+CI+EA I group, EA was applied to SP 6 + ST 40 first before CI, once daily for 10 days, followed by EA of SP 6+ST 40 and acupuncture of GV20+GV26 for 7 days after CI. For HL+CI+EA II group, no treatment was given before CI, then, acupuncture of GV 20 + GV 26 and EA of SP 6 + ST 40 were given once daily for 7 days after CI. The immunoactivity of Nestin and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PONA) of SPZ was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In comparison with normal control group, the numbers of both Nestin and PCNA immunoreaction (IR) positive cells in the dorsolateral extension and the wall of the lateral ventricle of the brain increased significantly in CI and HL+CI groups (P<0.01). Compared with CI group, the numbers of Nestin and PCNA IR positive cells in the dorsolateral extension and the wall of the lateral ventricle in CI + A group increased considerably (P<0.01). In comparison with HL+CI group, both Nestin and PCNA IR positive cell numbers in the dorsolateral extension and the wall of the lateral ventricle of the brain in HL+CI+EA I and HL+CI+EA II groups increased significantly (P<0.01), and the effect of HL+CI+EA I group was markedly superior to that of HL+CI+EA II group in upregulating the numbers of Nestin and PCNA IR positive cells in the aforementioned regions of the lateral ventricle (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between HL and control groups, and between HL+EA and HL groups in the numbers of Nestin and PCNA IR positive cells in the dorsolateral extension and the wall of the lateral ventricle of the brain (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can upregulate Nestin and PCNA expression of the dorsolateral extension and the wall of the lateral ventricle of the brain on the ischemic side in rats with CI, and with HL+CI, which may contribute to its effects in promoting the proliferation and migration of neural stem cells in the brain.

Cardiovascular disorders are the primary causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Agents that improve lipid profile and reduce oxidative stress have been shown to reduce the ensuing risk factors. In the present study, we investigated whether increased magnesium intake could improve hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, and reduce oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into non-diabetic (ND), diabetic (DM) and diabetic fed on a high magnesium diet (DM-Mg) groups. Plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were used as markers of oxidative stress. Plasma levels of ascorbic acid, magnesium and calcium were also determined. Diabetes was induced by injecting alloxan (100 mg/kg B.W). The fasting blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the DM-Mg rats than in the DM rats. Plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, TBARS levels were significantly higher while plasma HDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio, ascorbic acid levels were significantly lowered in DM rats compared with the ND rats. Increased intake of magnesium significantly abrogated these alterations. There were no significant differences in the plasma levels of magnesium and calcium between the DM and ND groups. However, plasma levels of magnesium but not calcium were significantly elevated in DM-Mg rats when compared with other groups. In conclusion, these results suggest that diet rich in magnesium could exert cardioprotective effect through reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, oxidative stress and ameliorated HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio as well as increased plasma ascorbic acid and magnesium in diabetic rats.

Low-intensity swimming training, started at an early age, was undertaken to observe glycemic control in hypothalamic obese mice produced by neonatal monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) treatment. Although swimming exercises by weaning pups inhibited hypothalamic obesity onset and recovered sympathoadrenal axis activity, this event was not observed when exercise training is applied to young adult mice. However, the mechanisms producing this improved metabolism are still not fully understood. Current work verifies whether, besides reducing fat tissue accumulation, low-intensity swimming in MSG-weaned mice also improves glycemic control. Although MSG and control mice swam for 15 min/day, 3 days a week, from the weaning stage up to 90 days old, sedentary MSG and normal mice did not exercise at all. After 14 h of fasting, animals were killed at 90 days of age. Retroperitonial fat accumulation was measured to estimate obesity. Fasting blood glucose and insulin concentrations were also measured. Mice were also submitted to ipGTT. MSG obese mice showed fasting hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. However, the exercise was able to block MSG treatment effects. Higher total cholesterol and triglycerides observed in MSG mice were normalized by exercise after weaning. Exercised MSG animals had higher HDLc than the sedentary group. Data suggest that early exercise training maintains normoglycemia, insulin tissue sensitivity, and normal lipid profile in mice programmed to develop metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND:Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) are, currently, the major contributor to global mortality and will continue to dominate mortality rates in the future. Hyperlipidemia refers to the elevated levels of lipids and cholesterol in the blood, and is also identified as dyslipidemia, manifesting in the form of different disorders of lipoprotein metabolism. These abnormalities may lead to the development of atherosclerosis, which can lead to coronary artery disease and stroke. In recent years, there is a growing interest in the quest for alternative therapeutic treatments based on natural products, offering better recovery and the avoidance of side effects. Recent technological advances have further improved our understanding of the role of epigenetic mechanisms in hyperlipidemic disorders and dietary prevention strategies.

OBJECTIVE:This is a comprehensive overview of the anti-hyperlipidemic effects of plant extracts, vegetables, fruits and isolated compounds thereof, with a focus on natural products from the Mediterranean region as well as the possible epigenetic changes in gene expression or cardiometabolic signaling pathways.

METHODS:For the purpose of this study, we searched the PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases for eligible articles and publications over the last five years. The keywords included:"hyperlipidemia","plant extract","herbs","natural products","vegetables","cholesterol"and others. We initially included all relevant articles referring to in vitro studies, animal studies, Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and previous reviews.

CONCLUSION:Many natural products found in the Mediterranean diet have been studied for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. The antihyperlipidemic effect seems to be dose and/or consumption frequency related, which highlights the fact that a healthy diet can only be effective in reversing disease markers if it is consistent and within the framework of a healthy lifestyle. Finally, epigenetic biomarkers are increasingly recognized as new lifestyle management tools to monitor a healthy dietary lifestyle for the prevention of hyperlipidaemic disorders and comorbidities to promote a healthy life.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of oat and antioxidant vitamin (C 500 mg, E 400 IU) ingestion on endothelial function in overweight, dyslipidemic adults. DESIGN: Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial Intervention(s): Subjects (16 males>or = age 35; 14 postmenopausal females) were assigned, in random order, to oats (60 g oatmeal), vitamin E (400 IU) plus vitamin C (500 mg), the combination of oats and vitamins, or placebo, and underwent brachial artery reactivity scans (BARS) following a single dose of each treatment, and again following 6 weeks of daily ingestion, with 2-week washout periods. At each test, a provocation high-fat meal (50 g, predominantly saturated) was administered and subjects were scanned pre, and 3 hours post-ingestion. RESULTS: Mean flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD; measured as percent diameter change before and after treatments) at baseline was 6.35 +/- 3.37. Oats increased FMD non-significantly (p>0.05) with both single acute dose (from 6.07 +/- 6.25 to 9.22 +/- 8.82) and six weeks of sustained treatment (from 6.01 +/- 10.07 to 8.69 +/- 8.42). The direction of effect was negative for vitamins and the oat/vitamin combination with both acute and sustained treatment. There were no significant differences in FMD change among the treatments in either phase of the study, however when acute and sustained effects were pooled, oat treatment significantly augmented FMD (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This trial suggests but does not confirm a beneficial influence of oat ingestion on endothelial function in overweight, dyslipidemic adults. Further study of this potential association is warranted.

Nutrient levels in buckwheats that were maximized in day 8 sprouts (D8SP) included total phenolics, quercetin, and l-ascorbic acid, whereas those of oxalic, malic, tartaric, and citric acids, rutin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were found to reach maximum levels on day 10. Ethanolic extract of D8SP (2.5 mg/mL) revealed potent free-radical scavenging (FRS) and antioxidative (ANO) capabilities. However, its Fe2+-chelating capability was only moderate. To further study the hypolipidemic activity of D8SP, 36 Syrian hamsters were grouped into six groups and fed for 28 days, respectively, with (i) control meal, (ii) high fat plus high cholesterol meal, (iii) high fat plus high cholesterol plus 2.5% of buckwheat seeds, (iv) high fat plus high cholesterol plus 25% of buckwheat seeds, (v) high fat plus high cholesterol plus 2.5% of D8SP, and (vi) high fat plus high cholesterol plus 25% of D8SP. High seed meal prominently enhanced body weight gain, whereas high sprout meal exhibited the highest feed efficiency. Ratios of liver/body weight (L/B) were significantly lowered by all BS meals. Although low seed meal reduced serum total cholesterol (TC) levels (p<0.05), its effect was still inferior to the high seed and sprout meals (p<0.01). In contrast, serum triglyceride (TG) levels were lowered only by the high seed and sprout meals (p<0.05). Alternatively, levels of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were significantly suppressed by all buckwheat meals (p<0.01). Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were increased, however, insignificantly. Nutraceutically more meaningful is that both LDL-C/HDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratios were significantly lowered (p<0.01). Apparently, hepatic TC levels were significantly reduced, whereas hepatic TG levels were totally unaffected. Conclusively, sprouting triggers a variety of nutritional changes in buckwheats. Day 8 sprouts, consisting of high polyphenolic and moderate quercetin contents, are nutraceutically maximized when hypocholesterolemic, hypotriglyceridemic, and antioxidative activities are concerned.

Citrullus colocynthis is one of the medical herbs that traditionally have been used as an antidiabetic medication in tropical and subtropical countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of Citrullus colocynthis beyond the hypoglycemic impact on human. One hundred dislipidemic patients were randomly divided into two groups namely treated (n = 50) group and placebo (n = 50) group. The subjects were treated daily by powdered seeds of Citrullus colocynthis (300 mg) and placebo for 6 weeks. The serums, TG, Chol, LDL-C, HDL-C, SGOT and SGPT were measured with enzymatic methods at the beginning and the end of the project. The significance of differences within these groups was calculated by Paired T-test and by analysis of covariance between them. There were significant differences within and between treated and placebo groups during our treatment in TG and in Cholesterol after intervention (p<0.05). A daily intake of 300 mg day(-1) of powdered seeds of Citrullus colocynthis can lower the triglyceride and cholesterol concentration significantly in nondiabetic hyperlipidemic patients.

BACKGROUND: Trials comparing the effectiveness and safety of weight-loss diets are frequently limited by short follow-up times and high dropout rates.

METHODS: In this 2-year trial, we randomly assigned 322 moderately obese subjects (mean age, 52 years; mean body-mass index [the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters], 31; male sex, 86%) to one of three diets: low-fat, restricted-calorie; Mediterranean, restricted-calorie; or low-carbohydrate, non-restricted-calorie.

RESULTS: The rate of adherence to a study diet was 95.4% at 1 year and 84.6% at 2 years. The Mediterranean-diet group consumed the largest amounts of dietary fiber and had the highest ratio of monounsaturated to saturated fat (P<0.05 for all comparisons among treatment groups). The low-carbohydrate group consumed the smallest amount of carbohydrates and the largest amounts of fat, protein, and cholesterol and had the highest percentage of participants with detectable urinary ketones (P<0.05 for all comparisons among treatment groups). The mean weight loss was 2.9 kg for the low-fat group, 4.4 kg for the Mediterranean-diet group, and 4.7 kg for the low-carbohydrate group (P<0.001 for the interaction between diet group and time); among the 272 participants who completed the intervention, the mean weight losses were 3.3 kg, 4.6 kg, and 5.5 kg, respectively. The relative reduction in the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 20% in the low-carbohydrate group and 12% in the low-fat group (P=0.01). Among the 36 subjects with diabetes, changes in fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were more favorable among those assigned to the Mediterranean diet than among those assigned to the low-fat diet (P<0.001 for the interaction among diabetes and Mediterranean diet and time with respect to fasting glucose levels).

CONCLUSIONS: Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets may be effective alternatives to low-fat diets. The more favorable effects on lipids (with the low-carbohydrate diet) and on glycemic control (with the Mediterranean diet) suggest that personal preferences and metabolic considerations might inform individualized tailoring of dietary interventions. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00160108.)