Herbs for serum cholesterol reduction: a systematic view.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review the clinical evidence for herbal medicinal products in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
A systematic review of randomized clinical trials of herbal medicinal products used to lower serum cholesterol. Systematic literature searches were conducted in 6 electronic data-bases. The reference lists of all papers and our files were searched for more relevant publications. Experts in the field and manufacturers of identified herbal medicinal products were contacted for published and unpublished data. No language restrictions were imposed.


METHODS
All randomized clinical trials of serum cholesterol reduction, in which mono-preparations of herbal medicinal products were administered as supplements to human subjects, were included.


RESULTS
Twenty-five randomized clinical trials involving 11 herbal medicinal products were identified. Guggul (Commiphora mukul), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), red yeast rice, and artichoke (Cynara scolymus) have been most extensively studied and have demonstrated reductions in total serum cholesterol levels of between10% and 33%. The methodological quality as assessed by the Jadad score was less than 3 (maximum, 5) for 13 of the 25 trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Many herbal medicinal products have potential hypocholesterolemic activity and encouraging safety profiles. However, only a limited amount of clinical research exists to support their efficacy. Further research is warranted to establish the value of these extracts in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Thompson Coon
Joanna S
JS
Complementary Medicine, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, 25 Victoria Park Road, Exeter EX2 4NT, United Kingdom. jo.thompson-coon@pms.ac.uk
Ernst
Edzard
E
D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004347:Drug Interactions; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002784:Cholesterol