Beneficial Metabolic Effect of a Nutraceuticals Combination (Monacolin K, Yeasted Red Rice, Polyphenolic Extract of Annurca Apple and Berberine) on Acquired Hypercholesterolemia: A Prospective Analysis.

Hypercholesterolemia represents a serious public health problem as it significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Its treatment with statin is limited by costs, side effects, and drugs interactions. Nutraceuticals appear to have an important metabolic effect on cholesterol reduction as well as on body weight and glycemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a nutraceutical combination (Melasterol) in eighty-seven patients with acquired hypercholesterolemia. Clinically relevant parameters were collected at baseline and after three and six months of Melasterol treatment, one tablet per day. The primary endpoint was the change in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Six months of treatment resulted in a 19.2% decrease in total cholesterol, accompanied by a 19.8% decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and a 23% reduction in triglycerides (p < 0.001) but not in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (p > 0.05). These results were paralleled by a significative blood glucose (108.3 ± 21.3 vs. 98.4 ± 18.6 mg/dL p < 0.001) and body mass index (BMI) reduction (27.8 ± 4.4 vs. 27.0 ± 4.2 mg/dL, p < 0.001). A subgroup of 12 patients performed flow-mediated dilation, with values increasing by 1.8% (p < 0.05). No significant side effects were reported. Besides its cholesterol-lowering effect, Melasterol was associated with a significant improvement in other relevant metabolic parameters such as BMI and glycemia.

Abnormally high resistive index of central retinal artery by ultrasound color Doppler in patients with viral chronic liver disease: correlation with worsening liver staging.

Retrobulbar-ocular circulation provides an opportunity to assess the terminal circulation of the arterial cerebral tree. To evaluate whether retrobulbar circulation in patients with chronic liver disease is affected by adaptive mechanisms, we assessed by echo color Doppler, 1. The resistive-index of the central retinal artery, a terminal branch of the ophthalmic artery, and 2. the potential interrelationships with both liver staging and the most important splanchnic Doppler-parameters used to assess portal hypertension. The resistance index (RI) of the central retinal artery was obtained and compared with other classical Doppler parameters known to be affected by portal hypertension. The RI of the central retinal artery (CRA) was higher in cirrhotic patients than in controls or subjects with chronic hepatitis; it correlated with all the Doppler parameters of portal hypertension considered, with plasma renin-activity, and norepinephrine concentrations. Similarly to renal and splanchnic hemodynamics, retinal arterial circulation assessed by duplex Doppler seems to be affected by the histology of liver disease and by the overactivity of vasoconstrictor systems.