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 .
Eicosapentaenoic acid is primarily responsible for hypotriglyceridemic effect of fish oil in humans
The aim of this study was to determine whether eicosapentaenoic acid ( EPA ) or docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ) , or both , were responsible for the triglyceride (TG)-lowering effects of fish oil . EPA ( 91 % pure ) and DHA ( 83 % pure ) , a fish oil concentrate ( FOC ; 41 % EPA and 23 % DHA ) and an olive oil ( OO ) placebo ( all ethyl esters ) were tested . A total of 49 normolipidemic subjects participated . Each subject was given placebo for 2–3 wk and one of the n-3 supplements for 3 wk in r and omized , blinded trials . The target n-3 fatty acid ( FA ) intake was 3 g/day in all studies . Blood sample s were drawn twice at the end of each supplementation phase and analyzed for lipids , lipoproteins , and phospholipid FA composition . In all groups , the phospholipid FA composition changed to reflect the n-3 FA given . On DHA supplementation , EPA levels increased to a small but significant extent , suggesting that some retroconversion may have occurred . EPA supplementation did not raise DHA levels , however , FOC and EPA produced significant decreases in both TG and very low density lipoprotein ( VLDL ) cholesterol ( C ) levels ( P<0.01 ) and increases in low density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol levels ( P<0.05 ) . DHA supplementation did not affect cholesterol , triglyceride , VLDL , LDL , or high density lipoprotein ( HDL ) levels , but it did cause a significant increase in the HDL2/HDL3 cholesterol ratio . We conclude that EPA appears to be primarily responsible for TG-lowering ( and LDL-C raising ) effects of fish oil
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 .