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 .
Daily moderate alcohol consumption increases serum paraoxonase activity; a diet-controlled, randomised intervention study in middle-aged men.
Moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a reduced risk of  coronary heart disease .  Part of this inverse association may be explained by its effects on HDL . Paraoxonase , an HDL-associated enzyme , has been suggested to protect against LDL oxidation . We examined the effects of moderate consumption of red wine , beer and spirits in comparison with mineral water on paraoxonase activity in serum . In this diet-controlled , r and omised , cross-over study 11 healthy middle-aged men consumed each of the beverages with evening dinner for 3 weeks . At the end of each 3 week period , blood sample s were collected pre- and postpr and ially and after an overnight fast . Fasting paraoxonase activity was higher after intake of wine ( P<0 . 001 ) , beer ( P<0.001 ) , and spirits ( P<0.001 ) than after water consumption ( 149.4+/-111.1 , 152.6+/-113.1 , 152.8+/-116.5 and 143 . 1+/-107.9 U/l serum ) , but did not differ significantly between the 3 alcoholic beverages . Similar effects were observed pre- and postpr and ially . The increases in paraoxonase activity were strongly correlated with coincident increases in concentrations of HDL-C and apo A-I ( r=0.60 , P<0.05 and r=0.70 , P<0.05 ) . These data suggest that increased serum paraoxonase may be one of the biological mechanisms underlying the reduced coronary heart disease risk in moderate alcohol
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 .