Archive | 2019
Effects of a combined nutraceutical on glucose and lipid metabolism in women with post-menopausal incident metabolic syndrome: a double-blind, placebocontrolled, randomized clinical trial
Abstract
Background: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the impairment of several metabolic and \nhaemodynamic parameters. Several natural compounds have just demonstrated to improve glucose and lipid \nlevels in humans. \nAim: To assess the short-term glucose and lipid-lowering effects of a combination of nutraceuticals based \non Lagerstroemia speciosa, Berberis aristata, Curcuma longa, alpha-lipoic acid, chrome picolinate and \nfolic acid in patients with post-menopausal incident metabolic syndrome. \nMethods: We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial by \nenrolling 40 women in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and affected by metabolic syndrome \noccurred in menopause. After 2-week run-in period of dietary standardization, enrolled patients were \nallocated to active treatment or placebo for 8 weeks. Data related to lipid pattern, insulin resistance, liver \nfunction and hsCRP were obtained at the beginning and at the end of the study. \nResults: No patient experienced any subjective or laboratory adverse event. During the study, there were \nno significant changes in waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein \ncholesterol in either treatment groups. Subjects randomized to nutraceutical treatment experienced a \nsignificant improvement in triglycerides (TG= -32.2%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C= \n+5.7%), fasting plasma insulin (FPI= -14.1%), and in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance \n(HOMA-Index= -27.3%) versus the baseline values, as welle as compared to the placebo-treated group. \nConclusions: The tested nutraceutical compound showed to be effective in improving TG, HDL-C, FPI and \nHOMA-Index, with an optimal tolerability profile in patients with post-menopausal incident metabolic \nsyndrome.