title: Chios mastic gum modulates serum biochemical parameters in a human population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current research suggests that Chios mastic (Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) possesses beneficial (antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective) properties. This study aims to assess its effects on cardiologic and hepatic biochemical indices of human subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects (n=133, aged over 50) were randomly assigned to two groups, the first (high-dose group) ingesting daily 5g of mastic powder and the second receiving daily a Chios mastic solution (low-dose group). Serum biochemical parameters were determined on a monthly basis for an 18-month (high-dose group) and a 12-month (low-dose group) follow-up period. Generalized least squares random-effects linear regression was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The group ingesting Chios mastic powder (high-dose group) exhibited a decrease in serum total cholesterol, LDL, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein A-1, apolipoprotein B (apoB/apoA-1 ratio did not change), SGOT, SGPT and gamma-GT levels; in the second (low-dose) group, glucose levels decreased in males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chios mastic powder could have a hepatoprotective/cardioprotective role in vivo in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Medical School, National University of Athens, 75, Mikras Assias Str, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Angeliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaviaras
authors.forename: Theodoros N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Sergentanis
authors.forename: Evaggelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Protopapa
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsaknis
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects*; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D008875:Middle Aged; D027927:Pistacia; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D012116:Resins, Plant; D002784:Cholesterol; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase