title: Nutraceuticals in lipid-lowering treatment: a narrative review on the role of chitosan.
abstract: Lipid-lowering drugs may cause adverse effects and, although lipid targets may be achieved, a substantial residual cardiovascular (CV) risk remains. Treatment with agents mimicking proteins present in the body, such as incretin-based therapies, provided promising results. However, in order to improve lipids and CV risk, lifestyle measures remain important. Some researchers focused on nutraceuticals that may beneficially affect metabolic parameters and minimize CV risk. Chitosan, a dietary fiber, can regulate lipids with benefit on anthropometric parameters. The beneficial properties of dietary supplements (such as green tea extract, prebiotics, plant sterols, and stanols) on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, blood pressure, glucose, and insulin levels and their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects are documented. However, larger, prospective clinical trials are required to confirm such benefits. Such treatments may be recommended when lipid-lowering drugs are neither indicated nor tolerated as well as in order to achieve therapeutic targets and/or overcome residual CV risk.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy Department of Population Health, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Patti
authors.affiliation: Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsiki
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikolic
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Rasadi
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy Department of Population Health, Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Palermo, Italy manfredi.rizzo@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Manfredi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: chitosan; dietary supplements; lipids; lipoproteins; nutraceuticals