title: Xuezhikang decreases serum lipoprotein(a) and C-reactive protein concentrations in patients with coronary heart disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) concentrations are independent risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). Xuezhikang, an extract of cholestin, effectively lowers fasting cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. We studied whether xuezhikang lowered Lp(a) and hsCRP concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly divided 60 CHD patients into two groups to receive xuezhikang (1200 mg daily) or placebo for 6 weeks. The fasting hsCRP concentration and the postprandial changes of serum lipid concentrations at 2, 4, and 6 h after a high-fat meal (800 calories; 50 g of fat) were measured before and after the 6-week protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups had similar baseline fasting lipid and hsCRP concentrations. The postprandial triglyceride and Lp(a) concentrations were significantly increased (P <0.05). After 6 weeks, the fasting and postprandial lipid concentrations decreased significantly in the xuezhikang group, accompanied by a significant reduction in fasting hsCRP concentration (P <0.001). The placebo group had no significant change in lipid concentrations, whereas the fasting serum hsCRP concentration was reduced significantly (P <0.05). The reduction in hsCRP was closely related to the changes in fasting Lp(a) concentration (r = 0.402; P <0.05) and triglyceride area under the curve (r = 0.441; P <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Xuezhikang effectively decreased fasting Lp(a) and postprandial triglyceride concentrations, which were associated with reductions of fasting hsCRP concentrations in CHD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China. lightbluerose@163.net
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shui-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yan-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yu-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019518:Postprandial Period
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); C117343:red yeast rice; D002097:C-Reactive Protein