The results of this systematic review indicate that the dietary supplementation with red yeast rice , bergamot , artichoke , and virgin olive oil has promising effects on the increase of HDL-C serum levels .
The artichoke leaf extract and virgin olive oil appear to be particularly interesting , while bergamot extract needs further research and the effect of red yeast rice seems to be limited to patients with previous myocardial infa rct ion .
Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects
Background .
High HDL-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) values are negatively correlated with cardiovascular diseases .
This review analyses the effect of the supplementation with various Mediterranean diet products ( artichoke , bergamot , and olive oil ) and Asian diet products ( red yeast rice ) on the  HDL-C value in dyslipidemic subjects .
Olive oils high in phenolic compounds modulate oxidative/antioxidative status in men.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether olive oils high in phenolic compounds influence the oxidative/antioxidative status in humans . Healthy men ( n = 12 ) participated in a double-blind , r and omized , crossover study in which 3 olive oils with low ( LPC ) , moderate ( MPC ) , and high ( HPC ) phenolic content were given as raw doses ( 25 mL/d ) for 4 consecutive days preceded by 10-d washout periods . Volunteers followed a strict very low-antioxidant diet the 3 d before and during the intervention periods . Short-term consumption of olive oils decreased plasma oxidized LDL ( oxLDL ) , 8-oxo-dG in mitochondrial DNA and urine , malondialdehyde in urine ( P < 0.05 for linear trend ) , and increased HDL cholesterol and glutathione peroxidase activity ( P < 0.05 for linear trend ) , in a dose-dependent manner with the phenolic content of the olive oil administered . At d 4 , oxLDL after MPC and HPC , and 8-oxo-dG after HPC administration ( 25 mL , respectively ) , were reduced when the men were in the postpr and ial state ( P < 0.05 ) . Phenolic compounds in plasma increased dose dependently during this stage with the phenolic content of the olive oils at 1 , 2 , 4 , and 6 h , respectively ( P < 0.01 ) . Their concentrations increased in plasma and urine sample s in a dose-dependent manner after short-term consumption of the olive oils ( P < 0.01 ) . In conclusion , the olive oil phenolic content modulated the oxidative/antioxidative status of healthy men who consumed a very low-antioxidant diet
The results of this systematic review indicate that the dietary supplementation with red yeast rice , bergamot , artichoke , and virgin olive oil has promising effects on the increase of HDL-C serum levels .
The artichoke leaf extract and virgin olive oil appear to be particularly interesting , while bergamot extract needs further research and the effect of red yeast rice seems to be limited to patients with previous myocardial infa rct ion .
Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects
Background .
High HDL-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) values are negatively correlated with cardiovascular diseases .
This review analyses the effect of the supplementation with various Mediterranean diet products ( artichoke , bergamot , and olive oil ) and Asian diet products ( red yeast rice ) on the  HDL-C value in dyslipidemic subjects .