Effect of Totum-070 on Lipid Metabolism in Moderate Hypercholesterolemic Subjects

This clinical study aims to assess the efficacy of TOTUM-070, a mix of 5 plant extracts, on lipid metabolism in moderate hypercholesterolemic subjects. The hypothesis is that TOTUM-070, daily consumed, is superior to placebo for decrease of fasting blood LDL-cholesterol concentration (determined by ultracentrifugation method) after 24 weeks of consumption.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* I1. From 18 to 70 years (including ranges);
* I2. Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 35 kg/m² (including ranges);
* I3. Moderate hypercholesterolemic subject without any clinical symptoms of hypercholesterolemia (xanthoma, recurrent chest and/or leg pain) and not requiring immediate pharmacological lipid-lowering treatment according to the current recommendations (ESC/EAS, 2019);
* I4. For women: Non-menopausal with the same reliable contraception since at least three months before the beginning of the study and agreeing to keep it during the entire duration of the study (hormonal contraception, intra uterine device or surgical intervention) or menopausal with or without hormone replacement therapy (estrogenic replacement therapy begun from less than 3 months excluded);
* I5. Weight stable within ± 5% in the last three months;
* I6. No significant change in food habits or in physical activity in the 3 months before the randomization and agreeing to follow hygiene and dietary (HD) recommendations given during the study;
* I7. Good general and mental health according to the opinion of the investigator: no clinically significant and relevant abnormalities of medical history or physical examination;
* I8. Able and willing to participate to the study by complying with the protocol procedures as evidenced by his dated and signed informed consent form;
* I9. Affiliated with a social security scheme;
* I10. Agreeing to be registered on the volunteers in biomedical research.

At V0 biological analysis, the subjects will be eligible to the study on the following criteria:

* I11. Fasting blood LDL cholesterol concentration (using Friedewald estimation method) between 1.3 and 1.9 g/L (included ranges with ± 2% tolerated around);
* I12. Fasting blood triglycerides concentration ≤ 2.2 g/L;
* I13. SCORE Cardiovascular Risk Chart \< 5% (Low-risk regions of Europe).

Exclusion Criteria:

* E1. Suffering from a metabolic disorder such as diabetes, uncontrolled thyroidal trouble or other metabolic disorder needing a dose adjustment in drug intervention according to the professional recommendations;
* E2. Suffering from an uncontrolled arterial hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg);
* E3. With a history of ischemic cardiovascular event;
* E4. Having undergone recent surgical procedure in the past 6 months or in the 6 months to come;
* E5. With a history of bariatric surgery;
* E6. Suffering from a severe chronic disease (e.g. cancer, HIV, renal failure, ongoing hepatic or biliary disorders, chronic inflammatory digestive disease, arthritis or other chronic respiratory trouble, etc.) or gastrointestinal disorders found to be inconsistent with the conduct of the study by the investigator (e.g. celiac disease);
* E7. For women: ongoing pregnancy (as evidenced by a positive test for β-HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin), i.e. \> 5 mUI/mL, realized at V0) or breastfeeding or finished since less than 6 months or intending to become pregnant within 7 months ahead;
* E8. Under cholesterol and/or lipid-lowering treatment (e.g. statins, fibrates, ezetimibe, bile acid sequestrants, niacin, etc.) or stopped less than 3 months before the inclusion visit V0;
* E9. Under medication which could affect blood lipid parameters (e.g. long-term corticosteroid systemic drug, systemic antibodies, androgen or enzyme inducer, etc) or stopped less than 3 months before the inclusion visit V0 (antihypertensive stable long-term treatment tolerated);
* E10. Regular intake of dietary supplements or "health foods", or products rich in plant stanol or sterol (like Pro-Activ® or Danacol® products), rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids (especially soft gels containing fish oils), or in other substances intended to reduce cholesterol or glycemia or stopped less than 3 months before the inclusion visit V0;
* E11. Under treatment or dietary supplement which could significantly affect parameter(s) followed during the study according to the investigator or stopped in a too short period before the randomization (for example consumed in the month before the randomization);
* E12. With a known or suspected food allergy or intolerance or hypersensitivity to any of the study products' ingredient;
* E13. Consuming more than 3 standard drinks daily of alcoholic beverage for men or 2 standard drinks daily for women or not agreeing to keep his alcohol consumption habits unchanged throughout the study;
* E14. With extreme eating habits (e.g. skipping meals regularly) or with a current or planned in the next 7 months specific diet (e.g. hyper or hypocaloric, vegan, vegetarian) or stopped less than 3 months before the study;
* E15. With a personal history of anorexia nervosa, bulimia or significant eating disorders according to the investigator;
* E16. Smoking more than 10 cigarettes daily or not agreeing to keep his smoking habits unchanged throughout the study. The subject should be able not to smoke the morning and during the visits;
* E17. Having a lifestyle deemed incompatible with the study according to the investigator including high level of physical activity (defined as more than 10 hours of intense physical activity a week, walking excluded);
* E18. Who made a blood donation in the 3 months before the randomization or intending to make it within 7 months ahead;
* E19. Taking part in another clinical trial or being in the exclusion period of a previous clinical trial;
* E20. Having received, during the last 12 months, indemnities for clinical trial higher or equal to 4500 Euros;
* E21. Under legal protection (guardianship, wardship) or deprived from his rights following administrative or judicial decision;
* E22. Presenting a psychological or linguistic incapability to sign the informed consent;
* E23. Impossible to contact in case of emergency.

At V0 biological analysis, the subjects will be considered as non-eligible to the study on the following criteria:

* E24. Fasting glucose plasma concentration \> 126 mg/dL;
* E25. Blood AST (ASpartate amino Transferase), ALT (ALanine amino Transferase) or GGT (Gamma Glutamyl Transpeptidase) \> 3 x ULN (Upper Limit of Normal);
* E26. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) outside the laboratory normal values;
* E27. Blood urea \> 12.11 mmol/L and/or creatinine concentration \> 125 μmol/L;
* E28. Blood hsCRP \> 10 mg/L;
* E29. Complete blood count (CBC) with hemoglobin \< 11 g/dL or leucocytes \< 3000 /mm3 or leucocytes \> 16000 /mm3 or clinically significant abnormality according to the investigator.