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 .
Bergamot polyphenolic fraction enhances rosuvastatin-induced effect on LDL-cholesterol, LOX-1 expression and protein kinase B phosphorylation in patients with hyperlipidemia.
BACKGROUND Statins are the most commonly prescribed drugs to reduce cardiometabolic risk . Besides the well-known efficacy of such compounds in both preventing and treating cardiometabolic disorders , some patients experience statin-induced side effects . We hypothesize that the use of natural bergamot-derived polyphenols may allow patients undergoing statin treatment to reduce effective doses while achieving target lipid values . The aim of the present study is to investigate the occurrence of an enhanced effect of bergamot-derived polyphenolic fraction ( BPF ) on rosuvastatin-induced hypolipidemic and vasoprotective response in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia . METHODS A prospect i ve , open-label , parallel group , placebo-controlled study on 77 patients with elevated serum LDL-C and triglycerides was design ed . Patients were r and omly assigned to a control group receiving placebo ( n=15 ) , two groups receiving orally administered rosuvastatin ( 10 and 20mg/daily for 30 days ; n=16 for each group ) , a group receiving BPF alone orally ( 1000 mg/daily for 30 days ; n=15 ) and a group receiving BPF ( 1000 mg/daily given orally ) plus rosuvastatin ( 10mg/daily for 30 days ; n=15 ) . RESULTS Both doses of rosuvastatin and BPF reduced total cholesterol , LDL-C , the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and urinary mevalonate in hyperlipidemic patients , compared to control group . The cholesterol lowering effect was accompanied by reductions of malondialdehyde , oxyLDL receptor LOX-1 and phosphoPKB , which are all biomarkers of oxidative vascular damage , in peripheral polymorphonuclear cells . CONCLUSIONS Addition of BPF to rosuvastatin significantly enhanced rosuvastatin-induced effect on serum lipemic profile compared to rosuvastatin alone . This lipid-lowering effect was associated with significant reductions of biomarkers used for detecting oxidative vascular damage , suggesting a multi-action enhanced potential for BPF in patients on statin therapy
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 .