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 .
Combined Treatment with Dif1stat® and Diet Reduce Plasma Lipid Indicators of Moderate Hypercholesterolemia More Effectively than Diet Alone: A Randomized Trial in Parallel Groups
An open-labeled r and omized trial with parallel groups was carried out to study the effects of Dif1stat ® ( Monascus purpureus – Linear aliphatic alcohols – Niacin ) in the treatment of primary moderate hypercholesterolemia . The trial lasted 8 months . The patients , males and females , were assigned to two groups : A ( # 130 ) , treated  with diet  , and B ( # 110 ) su bmi tted to diet + Dif1stat ® . After 4 months , group A did not show significant changes in Total cholesterol ( TC ) , LDL-cholesterol ( LDLC ) , HDL-cholesterol ( HDLC ) or non-HDL-cholesterol ( non-HDLC ) . The same group , showed a reduction in TC ( –22 % ) , LDLC ( –30 % ) and non-HDLC ( –27 % ) after 8 months ( P ≤ 0.001 ) . After 4 months , TC ( –21.3 % ) , LDLC ( –29 % ) , and non-HDLC ( –26 % ) were significantly lowered in group B ( P ≤ 0.001 ) . In group B , TC , LDLC and non-HDLC showed a further reduction after 8 months : –29.4 , –38 and –37 % , respectively ( P ≤ 0.001 ) . Even triglycerides ( TG ) decreased significantly ( –33 % ) ( P ≤ 0.001 ) . After 8 months , group B showed a significant reduction of TG ( –33 % ) ( P ≤ 0.001 ) , when compared to group A. Some safety parameters were significantly reduced in both groups : AST and γ-GT in group A after 4 and 8 months , as well as ALT , AST and γ-GT in group B after 8 months ( P ≤ 0.001 ) . Dif1stat ® , given with a suitable diet , was well tolerated in the long-term and induced an anti-atherogenic plasma lipid and lipoprotein profile , in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia
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 .