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 .
Nutritional Intervention Study with Argan Oil in Man: Effects on Lipids and Apolipoproteins
Aim : To evaluate whether the consumption of virgin argan oil ( VAO ) is associated with a change in serum lipids and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in healthy Moroccans . Methods : Sixty volunteers consumed butter ( 25 g/day ) during 2 weeks ( stabilization period ) and were r and omly divided into two groups : the treatment group received 25 g/day of VAO during 3 weeks ( intervention period ) , and the control group received 25 g/day of extra virgin olive oil ( EVO ) . Throughout the study , weight , blood pressure , and daily food intake were measured . Serum total cholesterol and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol , triglycerides , and apolipoproteins A-I and B were measured at the end of each diet period . Results : Analysis of food intake showed that the daily diet is isocaloric for the butter regimen ( 2,537 ± 244 kcal/day ) as well as for the VAO and EVO regimens ( 2,561± 246 and 2,560 ± 253 kcal/day , respectively ) . Analysis of the lipid intake showed a reduction in saturated fatty acids  with VAO and EVO regimens ( 27 ± 1.4 and 26.4 ± 3.4 % , respectively ) as compared with the stabilization period ( 41.6 ± 2.4 % ) . The analysis of serum lipids showed a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I in both VAO group ( 8.4 % , p = 0.012 , and 5.2 % , p = 0.027 , respectively ) and EVO group ( 17.3 % , p = 0.001 , and 5.9 % , p = 0.036 , respectively ) . However , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B ( 13.8 % , p = 0.037 , and 7.8 % , p = 0.039 , respectively ) decreased significantly only in EVO group as compared with the stabilization period , while triglycerides decreased significantly by 17.5 % ( p = 0.039 ) only in VAO group . Conclusion : These results confirm the cholesterol-lowering effect of EVO and show for the first time the triglyceride-lowering effect of VAO in men
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 .