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 .
Cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement.
BACKGROUND We examined the cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice supplement in an American population consuming a diet similar to the American Heart Association Step I diet using a double-blind , placebo-controlled , prospect ively r and omized 12-wk controlled trial at a university research center . OBJECTIVE We evaluated the lipid-lowering effects of this red-yeast-rice dietary supplement in US adults separate from effects of diet alone . DESIGN Eighty-three healthy subjects ( 46 men and 37 women aged 34 - 78 y ) with hyperlipidemia [ total cholesterol , 5.28 - 8.74 mmol/L ( 204 - 338 mg/dL ) ; LDL cholesterol , 3.31 - 7.16 mmol/L ( 128 - 277 mg/dL ) ; triacylglycerol , 0.62 - 2.78 mmol/L ( 55 - 246 mg/dL ) ; and HDL cholesterol 0.78 - 2.46 mmol/L ( 30 - 95 mg/dL ) ] who were not being treated with lipid-lowering drugs participated . Subjects were treated with red yeast rice ( 2.4 g/d ) or placebo and instructed to consume a diet providing 30 % of energy from fat , < 10 % from saturated fat , and < 300 mg cholesterol daily . Main outcome measures were total cholesterol , total triacylglycerol , and HDL and LDL cholesterol measured at weeks 8 , 9 , 11 , and 12 . RESULTS Total cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly between baseline and 8 wk in the red-yeast-rice-treated group compared with the placebo-treated group [ ( x+/-SD ) 6.57+/-0.93 mmol/L ( 254+/-36 mg/dL ) to 5.38+/-0.80 mmol/L ( 208+/-31 mg/dL ) ; P < 0.001 ] . LDL cholesterol and total triacylglycerol were also reduced with the supplement . HDL cholesterol did not change significantly . CONCLUSIONS Red yeast rice significantly reduces total cholesterol , LDL cholesterol , and total triacylglycerol concentrations compared with placebo and provides a new , novel , food-based approach to lowering cholesterol in the general population
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 .