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 Xuezhikang, an extract from red yeast Chinese rice, on coronary events in a Chinese population with previous myocardial infarction.
Results of well-controlled prospect i ve clinical trials showed the efficacy of lipid-lowering therapies in the reduction of cardiovascular ( CV ) events in western population s , but they were not reported with a Chinese population . This multicenter study was conducted to determine the effects of Xuezhikang ( XZK ) , a partially purified extract of red yeast rice , on lipoprotein and CV end points in Chinese patients who experienced a previous myocardial infa rct ion . Nearly 5,000 of these patients with average low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at baseline were r and omly assigned either to placebo or to XZK daily for an average of 4.5 years . The primary end point was a major coronary event that included nonfatal myocardial infa rct ion and death from coronary heart disease . Frequencies of the primary end point were 10.4 % in the placebo group and 5.7 % in the XZK-treated group , with absolute and relative decreases of 4.7 % and 45 % , respectively . Treatment with XZK also significantly decreased CV and total mortality by 30 % and 33 % , the need for coronary revascularization by 1/3 , and lowered total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides , but raised high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels . In conclusion , long-term therapy with XZK significantly decreased the recurrence of coronary events and the occurrence of new CV events and deaths , improved lipoprotein regulation , and was safe and well tolerated
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 .