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 .
Kinetics of HDL cholesterol and paraoxonase activity in moderate alcohol consumers.
BACKGROUND The inverse association between moderate drinking and coronary heart disease mortality is well established . This study was performed to investigate the kinetics of the alcohol-induced increases in apo A-1 , HDL cholesterol , and paraoxonase ( PON ) activity , as well as to study whether the alcohol-induced increases in PON activity differ within different PON polymorphisms , and to investigate whether moderate alcohol consumption has similar effects on the outcome measures in postmenopausal women as in middle-aged men . METHODS In a r and omized , diet-controlled , crossover study , 10 middle-aged men and 9 postmenopausal women , all apparently healthy , nonsmoking , and moderate alcohol drinkers , consumed beer or no-alcohol beer ( control ) with evening dinner during two successive periods of 3 weeks . During the beer period , alcohol intake equaled 40 and 30 g/day for men and women , respectively . The total diet was supplied to the subjects and had essentially the same composition during these 6 weeks . Before each treatment was a 1-week washout period , in which the subjects were not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages . RESULTS Moderate alcohol consumption significantly increased serum apo A-I level after 5 days ( 3.7 % , p < 0.05 ) ; after 10 days , serum HDL cholesterol level was increased ( 6.8 % , p < 0.001 ) , and after 15 days serum PON activity was increased ( 3.7 % , p < 0.05 ) , all compared with no alcohol consumption . Gene polymorphisms did not modulate the alcohol effect on PON . CONCLUSIONS Serum apo A-I , HDL cholesterol , and PON activity were significantly increased during 3 weeks of moderate alcohol consumption as compared with no alcohol consumption . Moreover , the results suggest that there is a sequence in induction of these parameters . After an increase in apo A-I , HDL cholesterol is increased followed by an increase in PON activity . Increased serum HDL cholesterol level and PON activity may be a mechanism of action not only in healthy middle-aged men but also in postmenopausal women , underlying the reduced coronary heart disease risk in moderate drinkers
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 .