Bergamot Reduces Plasma Lipids, Atherogenic Small Dense LDL, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Subjects with Moderate Hypercholesterolemia: A 6 Months Prospective Study (original) (raw)
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Effect of bergamot on lipid profile in humans: A systematic review
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2019
Dyslipidemia is a well-established modifiable cardiovascular risk. Although statins can reduce LDLc by 50-60%, less than 20% of patients with high risk of CVD achieve LDL targets. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect of the nutraceutical, bergamot (Citrus bergamia), on lipid parameters in humans. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched for interventional and observational studies investigating the effect of bergamot on lipid profile in humans. This systematic review retrieved a total of 442 studies of which 12 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis. Based on data, 75% of studies showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDLc. The decrease in total cholesterol varied from 12.3% to 31.3%, from 7.6% to 40.8% in LDLc and from 11.5% to 39.5% in triglycerides. Eight trials reported HDLc increase after intervention with bergamot. Overall, a dose-dependent and possible synergistic effect when administering with statins can be deducted from these trials. It is essential to point out that studies had heterogeneous designs and scientific quality of studies was quite limited. Promising findings reveal an alternative therapeutic option in dyslipidemia management with bergamot supplementation, especially in subjects with statins intolerance.
Effect of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction on level of HDL-C & LDL-C
International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, 2023
A well-established modifiable cardiovascular risk component is low density lipoprotein (LDL-C). Although statins can lessen LDL-c through 50–60%, less than 20% of patients with excessive risk of CVD acquire LDL targets. The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the impact of the nutraceutical, bergamot (Citrus bergamia), on lipid parameters in humans. Based on data, 75% of studies confirmed a significant lower in overall cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-c. The lower in overall cholesterol varied from 12.3% to 31.3%, from 7.6% to 40.8% in LDL-c and from 11.5% to 39.5% in triglycerides. The incidence of metabolic syndrome (MS) represents an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disorder states in patients affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, both the size of LDL particles and liver disorder recognized as non- alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) constitute essential biomarkers for the improvement of cardiometabolic risk in patients with MS. Recent evidence indicates that bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) in patients with MS and NASH induces a significant decrease of fasting plasma glucose, serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides along with an increase of HDL cholesterol. In addition, a significant reduction of both ultrasonographic, TC scans and metabolic biomarkers of NASH in addition to a significant reduction of small dense LDL particles have been determined after BPF treatment suggesting a useful impact of bergamot-extract in patients with MS and NASH. In this regards, emerging evidence indicates a capability protecting function of bergamot extracts, specially bergamot flavonoids, in the control of various features of MetS (metabolic syndrome), because of their pleiotropic anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and lipid- reducing results. The purpose of this review is to discuss the beneficial effects of bergamot polyphenols providing a brand-new therapeutic method in the treatment of cholesterol.
Evaluation of lipid and cholesterol-lowering effect of bioflavonoids from bergamot extract
Natural Product Research, 2020
Several natural products have been reported to be involved in the suppression of adipogenesis. In this study, we reveal that a bergamot extract (BE) decreased the accumulation of intracellular lipids in murine pre-adipocytes 3T3-L1 cells during adipogenic differentiation. Both the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity and the differentiation and proliferation of adipocytes could be used as a strategy for the treatment and prevention of obesity. The results of this study show a reduction of HMG-CoA activity and of lipid droplet accumulation in the presence of the BE, suggesting the potential of BE as an antiadipogenic agent to lower the content of cholesterol and body fat and prevent a gain in body weight. Moreover, BE as the result of high percentages of flavonoid compounds such as neoriocitrin, naringin and neohesperidin, the main flavonoids contained in BE, led to a significant inhibition of DPPH free radical, demonstrating a strong radical scavenging activity.
Background: Lipid-lowering therapy is the primary treatment for hypercholesterolemia, with statins as the first-line therapy. Nutraceuticals like bergamot, RYR, and berberine have been shown to be effective in reducing Low-density Lipoprotein (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of a novel nutraceutical supplement for mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia and low cardiovascular risk. Materials and methods: A prospective, multicentric, open-label, randomized controlled trial was conducted at four outpatient endocrine clinical centers in Greece. Patients were over 40 years old, had mild hypercholesterolemia, and did not require statin treatment according to guidelines. 66 subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia and a 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD Risk) <7.5% were included in the study. Mediterranean diet and the nutraceutical compound were prescribed to 34 patients at random for eight weeks, while 30 patients comprised the diet-only control group. Results: No significant changes were observed in Body mass index, TC, and High-density Lipoprotein concentrations between the two groups. A significant median reduction of 13.25% in LDL-C levels was achieved in the treated group and no adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: These results suggest that the investigated nutraceutical compound could serve as a potential alternative treatment, particularly for certain patient populations, such as those who are intolerant to statins or who refuse lipid-lowering drug therapy.
Advances in Biological Chemistry, 2014
The occurrence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) represents an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease states in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, both the size of LDL particles and liver dysfunction identified as non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represent important biomarkers for the development of cardiometabolic risk in patients with MS. Here we studied the effect of bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) in patients with MS and NAFLD. 107 patients were enrolled at the San Raffaele IRCCS (Rome). All of them showed ultrasonografic evidences of NAFLD and at least three out of five previous identified criteria for the diagnosis of MS. Patients were divided into two groups: one receiving placebo and the second receiving BPF 650 mg twice a day for 120 consecutive days. In the group receiving BPF 650 mg twice a day, a significant reduction of fasting plasma glucose, serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides alongside with an increase of HDL cholesterol was found. This effect was accompanied by significant reduction of both ultrasonographic and metabolic biomarkers of NAFLD. Moreover, a significant reduction of small dense LDL particles, as detected via proton NMR Spectroscopy, was found * Corresponding author. M. Gliozzi et al. 130 after BPF treatment. In conclusion, our data confirm the beneficial effect of bergamot-extract in patients with MS an effect highlighted by significant reduction of small dense LDL particles and by improvement of NAFLD biomarkers. This suggests a potential preventive role of bergamot derivatives in reducing cardiometabolic risk.
Phytotherapy Research, 2020
Bergamot has been traditionally used for the relief of diseases related to oxidative stress. Our aim was to investigate the effect of bergamot phytosome on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and on metabolic profile, in overweight and obese subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia. A total of 64 participants were randomized into two groups for 12 weeks: a supplemented group (33 individuals, BMI 27 ± 3 kg/m2 receiving 500 mg of bergamot phytosome, two daily tablets) and placebo group (31 subjects, BMI 28 ± 3 kg/m2, two daily tablets). As to the within differences, the parameters of VAT, total and LDL‐cholesterol were significantly decreased in the bergamot phytosome group, but not in the placebo group. As to between‐group differences, a statistically significant interaction between time and group, that is, the change in score over time differs between the two groups was observed 30 days after supplementation for VAT (p‐value = .005), total cholesterol (p‐value <.0002), and LDL (p = .004...
Nutrients, 2021
Botanicals are natural alternatives to pharmacological therapies that aim at reducing hypercholesterolemia. In this context, despite bergamot being effective in modulating lipid profile, some subjects failed to achieve a satisfactory response to supplementation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the association of 600 mg of bergamot phytosome® (from Citrus Bergamia Risso) and 100 mg of artichoke leaf standardized dry extract (from Cynara cardunculus L.) can be an alternative in patients with mild hypercholesterolemia who are poor responders to bergamot in a 2-month randomized placebo-controlled trial. Sixty overweight adults were randomized into two groups: 30 were supplemented and 30 received a placebo. The metabolic parameters and DXA body composition were evaluated at the start, after 30 and 60 days. Between the two groups, total and LDL cholesterol in the supplemented group (compared to placebo) showed significant decreases overtime. A significant reduction of waist ...
Hypolipemic and hypoglycaemic activity of bergamot polyphenols: From animal models to human studies
Fitoterapia, 2011
Bergamot juice produces hypolipemic activity in rats though the mechanism remains unclear. Here we investigated on the effect of bergamot extract (BPF) in diet-induced hyperlipemia in Wistar rats and in 237 patients suffering from hyperlipemia either associated or not with hyperglycaemia. BPF, given orally for 30 days to both rats and patients, reduces total and LDL cholesterol levels (an effect accompanied by elevation of cHDL), triglyceride levels and by a significant decrease in blood glucose. Moreover, BPF inhibited HMG-CoA reductase activity and enhanced reactive vasodilation thus representing an efficient phytotherapeutic approach in combating hyperlipemic and hyperglycaemic disorders.
2007
CONTEXT Preliminary studies have suggested that both citrus flavonoids and palm tocotrienols reduce cholesterol levels in laboratory animals. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of these nutrients in combination on blood levels of cholesterol and related cardiovascular disease risk factors. DESIGN Two open-label studies and 1 double-blind study are reported. SETTING Outpatient clinical research setting. PATIENTS Three groups (n=10, n=10, n=120) of hypercholesterolemic men and women (cholesterol levels >230 mg/dL) between the ages of 19 and 65 years were recruited. INTERVENTION Subjects were randomized to consume either 270 mg citrus flavonoids plus 30 mg tocotrienols (S) or placebo (P) daily for a period of 4 weeks (group 1 [G1] and group 2 [G2]) or 12 weeks (group 3 [G3]). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Measurements of fasting levels of blood cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides were made at baseline and 4 weeks (all groups) and at 8 w...
Nutrients, 2019
Bergamot flavonoids counteract dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia but fail to induce a significant weight loss. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of bergamot polyphenol extract complex (BPE-C), a novel bergamot juice-derived formulation enriched with flavonoids and pectins, on several metabolic syndrome parameters. Obese patients with atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) over 0.34 and mild hyperglycemia were recruited to a double-blind randomized trial comparing two doses of BPE-C (650 and 1300 mg daily) with placebo. Fifty-two subjects met the inclusion criteria and were assigned to three experimental groups. Fifteen subjects per group completed 90 days-trial. BPE-C reduced significantly fasting glucose by 18.1%, triglycerides by 32% and cholesterol parameters by up to 41.4%, leading to a powerful reduction of AIP (below 0.2) in the high dose group. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin levels were also reduced. Moreover, BPE-C decreased body weight by...