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 .
Effect of phenol-rich extra virgin olive oil on markers of oxidation in healthy volunteers
Objective : We studied whether consumption of phenol-rich extra virgin olive oil affects the susceptibility of low density lipoproteins ( LDL )  to  oxidation  and other markers of oxidation in humans . Design : R and omized cross-over intervention trial , stratified according to sex , age and energy intake . Setting : Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology , Wageningen University , The Netherl and s . Subjects : Forty-six healthy men and women completed the study .Intervention : Subjects consumed two diets supplying 69 g per day of extra virgin olive oil either rich or poor in phenols for 3 weeks each . The mean difference in phenol intake between the treatments was 18 mg per day .  Vitamin E intake was low during the whole study . Fasting blood sample s were taken twice at the end of each period . Results : Resistance of LDL and high density lipoprotein ( HDL ) to oxidation was not affected by treatment . The mean lag time of copper-induced formation of conjugated dienes was 1.6 min shorter in LDL and 0.4 min longer in HDL after the high phenol diet . Other markers of antioxidant capacity in plasma were also not affected : mean lipid hydroperoxides were 0.07 µmol/l higher , mean malondialdehydes were 0.001 µmol/l higher , mean protein carbonyls were 0.001 nmol/mg protein lower , and the mean ferric reducing ability of plasma ( FRAP ) was 0.006 mmol/l higher after the high phenol diet . All 95 % confidence intervals enclosed zero . Serum cholesterol concentrations were not affected by the treatment . Conclusion : Consumption of 18 mg per day of phenols from extra virgin olive oil for 3 weeks did not affect LDL or HDL oxidation or other markers of antioxidant capacity in fasting plasma sample s . Sponsorship : Supported by the International Olive Oil Council and the Foundation for Nutrition and Health Research .European Journal of Clinical Nutrition ( 2001 ) 55 ,
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 .