Acute and long term effects of a nutraceutical combination on lipid profile, glucose metabolism and vascular function in patients with dyslipidaemia with and without cigarette smoking

Introduction Lifestyle changes present a fundamental role in cardiovascular prevention. Nutraceuticals also supplementing diet could help in controlling the cardiometabolic risk. Aim (1) to evaluate acute efects of a combination of nutraceuticals (cNUT) on vascular function, BP, metabolism in dyslipidaemic patients before and after smoking; (2) to evaluate 12 weeks efects of the cNUT on lipid profle, insulin resistance and vascular function in patients with hypercholesterolemia not on statins. Methods After 14 d run-in period, 33 patients assumed a cNUT [patented formula containing: berberine (531.25 mg), red yeast rice powder (220 mg, 3.3 mg monacolin K) and leaf extract of Morus alba (200 mg) (LopiGLIK®, Akademy Pharma)]. To evaluate acute efects, cNUT or cNUT + smoking (in smoking subjects) on the morning of the frst day of the study and then 26 patients prolonged 12 weeks efects. Results In non smokers, cNUT improved FMD (p = 0.041 for treatment). In smokers, FMD decreased after smoking, this was counteracted by intake of cNUT. In smokers, DBP increased after smoking a cigarette (p = 0.042 for treatment), counteracted by the cNUT intake. In non smokers, thermogenesis was increased after cNUT administration (p < 0.0001 for treatment). After 12 weeks of cNUT, FMD signifcantly increased (p < 0.05) and SBP (p = 0.04), total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (p = 0.03) decreased. Conclusions Our study suggests benefts of cNUT on cardiovascular prevention in hypercolesterolemic patients, non statin treated, that goes beyond the cholesterol and insulin resistance reduction protecting the subject from negative efects induced by smoking too.