Efficacy and Safety of Monacolin K Combined with Coenzyme Q10, Grape Seed, and Olive Leaf Extracts in Improving Lipid Profile of Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Hypercholesterolemia: A Self-Control Study

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the lipid-lowering efficacy and safety of a novel dietary supplement containing monacolin K combined with the coenzyme Q10 and grape seed and olive tree leaf extracts (Arichol®®) on the lipid profile of adults with moderate cholesterol elevations and an absence of concomitant risk factors. We recruited patients from our Endocrinology Clinics in Greece who had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 140–180 mg/dL, were on no medications affecting serum lipid concentrations, and consented to participate in the present study. All subjects received 8-weeks supplementation with Arichol®® once daily. We measured total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), LDL-C, triglycerides (TG), and liver enzymes with enzymatic colorimetric assays at baseline and at the end of the study, and documented complaints potentially attributable to muscle injury. We recruited a total of 37 subjects, 33 females and 4 males (with a mean age of 55.89 ± 1.50 [mean ± standard error mean, SEM]). The treatment resulted in a statistically significant reduction in TC (from 258.9 ± 4.0 mg/dL to 212.7 ± 4.5 mg/dL, p < 0.001), LDL-C (from 173.8 ± 3.5 to 129.0 ± 4.5 mg/dL, p < 0.001), and TG (from 127.0 ± 12.2 to 117.0 ± 9.2, mg/dL, p = 0.012) concentrations, while HDL-C concentrations remained unchanged. There were no alterations in liver enzymes or symptoms of muscle pain in any subject. These promising results suggest that supplementation with this nutraceutical mixture favorably influences lipid concentrations during a short period of administration while exhibiting an excellent safety profile. Larger controlled studies are required to assess the potential for cardiovascular risk reduction with the above compound.