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. 2024 Dec 16;14(12):1608.
doi: 10.3390/biom14121608.

Beneficial Effects of a Nutraceutical Combination on Lipid Profiles in Children with Moderate and Severe Hypercholesterolemia

Anastasia Garoufi  1 , Maria Papadaki  1 , Michalis Kalogiannis  2 , Urania Zerva  3 , Marietta Charakida  1 , Antonios Marmarinos  4 , Achilleas Attilakos  2
Affiliations

Beneficial Effects of a Nutraceutical Combination on Lipid Profiles in Children with Moderate and Severe Hypercholesterolemia

Anastasia Garoufi et al. Biomolecules. .

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the long-term use of a dietary supplement containing red yeast rice (RYR), combined with other natural compounds, in children and adolescents with primary hypercholesterolemia. A nutraceutical, containing RYR, policosanols, coenzyme Q10, astaxanthin and folic acid (commercial name: Armolipid), was administered once daily in 84 children/adolescents with moderate or severe primary hypercholesterolemia. Moreover, 19 of the participants consumed 1.5-2.5 g of phytosterols daily until the initiation of dietary supplementation with Armolipid. Clinical and laboratory evaluation took place before and 6 and 16 months after treatment. Nutraceutical consumption resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels, which was maintained with long-term administration (p < 0.001). No changes were observed in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein A1 and lipoprotein (a) levels. In children previously on phytosterol supplementation, Armolipid use exerted a further significant reduction in atherogenic lipoproteins. Armolipid may be an effective and safe complementary treatment for children with moderate and severe hypercholesterolemia. More prospective studies on larger cohorts are needed to establish the role of nutraceuticals containing RYR, policosanols and other natural compounds in the treatment of children with hypercholesterolemia.

Keywords: dyslipidemia; lipid profile; nutraceuticals; phytosterols; red yeast rice.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C and Apo-B levels (mean values) in T0, T1 and T2 measurements in participants with no prior consumption of phytosterols (n = 45). Error bars represent standard deviations. p values were calculated with the one-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Changes in TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C and Apo-B levels (mean values) in T0, T1 and T2 measurements in participants with no prior consumption of phytosterols (n = 45). Error bars represent standard deviations. p values were calculated with the one-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Armolipid’s lowering effect on TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C and Apo-B levels (mean values) in population subgroups (no plant sterols consumption, n = 45; and plant sterols consumption, n = 19). Error bars represent standard deviations. p values were calculated with a mixed between–within subjects analysis of variance.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Armolipid’s lowering effect on TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C and Apo-B levels (mean values) in population subgroups (no plant sterols consumption, n = 45; and plant sterols consumption, n = 19). Error bars represent standard deviations. p values were calculated with a mixed between–within subjects analysis of variance.
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