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Clinical Trial
. 2003 Aug;49(8):1347-52.
doi: 10.1373/49.8.1347.

Xuezhikang decreases serum lipoprotein(a) and C-reactive protein concentrations in patients with coronary heart disease

Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Xuezhikang decreases serum lipoprotein(a) and C-reactive protein concentrations in patients with coronary heart disease

Ling Liu et al. Clin Chem. 2003 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Increased serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations are independent risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). Xuezhikang, an extract of cholestin, effectively lowers fasting cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. We studied whether xuezhikang lowered Lp(a) and hsCRP concentrations.

Methods: We randomly divided 60 CHD patients into two groups to receive xuezhikang (1200 mg daily) or placebo for 6 weeks. The fasting hsCRP concentration and the postprandial changes of serum lipid concentrations at 2, 4, and 6 h after a high-fat meal (800 calories; 50 g of fat) were measured before and after the 6-week protocol.

Results: The two groups had similar baseline fasting lipid and hsCRP concentrations. The postprandial triglyceride and Lp(a) concentrations were significantly increased (P <0.05). After 6 weeks, the fasting and postprandial lipid concentrations decreased significantly in the xuezhikang group, accompanied by a significant reduction in fasting hsCRP concentration (P <0.001). The placebo group had no significant change in lipid concentrations, whereas the fasting serum hsCRP concentration was reduced significantly (P <0.05). The reduction in hsCRP was closely related to the changes in fasting Lp(a) concentration (r = 0.402; P <0.05) and triglyceride area under the curve (r = 0.441; P <0.001).

Conclusions: Xuezhikang effectively decreased fasting Lp(a) and postprandial triglyceride concentrations, which were associated with reductions of fasting hsCRP concentrations in CHD patients.

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