title: Effect of a Natural Supplement Containing Curcuma Longa, Guggul, and Chlorogenic Acid in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome.
abstract: The impact of a natural supplement (Kepar; Rikrea, Italy), containing several plant extracts such as curcuma longa, silymarin, guggul, chlorogenic acid, and inulin, was evaluated in 78 patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS; 45 men; age: 62 ± 9 years). Kepar at a dose of 2 pills/d was given for 4 months as add-on therapy to the ongoing treatment, maintained at fixed doses for the entire study. Anthropometric variables, plasma lipids, glucose parameters, and oxidative stress were measured at baseline and after 4 months. We found significant reductions in body weight (from 81.1 ± 13.5 to 79.4 ± 12.5 kg, P < .0001), body mass index (from 29.6 [23.7] to 29.3 [21.9] kg/m(2), P = .001), and waist circumference (from 105 ± 11 to 102 ± 10 cm, P = .0004) as well as in fasting glucose (from 6.5 [11.7] to 6.4 [7.6] mmol/L, P = .014) and total cholesterol (from 4.8 ± 1.4 to 4.5 ± 1.0 mmol/L, P = .03). No significant changes were found in the other appraised parameters, including oxidative stress. In conclusion, after few months of treatment Kepar seems to exert beneficial effects in patients with MetS. Larger studies with a longer follow-up period are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
authors: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Angelo Maria
authors: AM
authors: Patti
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors: Khalid
authors: K
authors: Al-Rasadi
authors: Second Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors: Niki
authors: N
authors: Katsiki
authors: Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine & Health Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman.
authors: Yajnavalka
authors: Y
authors: Banerjee
authors: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Dragana
authors: D
authors: Nikolic
authors: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Vanella
authors: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Rosaria Vincenza
authors: RV
authors: Giglio
authors: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Valeria Ausilia
authors: VA
authors: Giannone
authors: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Montalto
authors: Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy manfredi.rizzo@unipa.it.
authors: Manfredi
authors: M
authors: Rizzo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D029744:Commiphora; D030024:Curcuma; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053149:Plant Gums / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012838:Silymarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; C000603210:Kepar; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053149:Plant Gums; D012838:Silymarin; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid; C018562:guggulu extract; D007444:Inulin; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: Curcuma longa; chlorogenic acid; cholesterol; guggul; inulin; metabolic syndrome; natural supplement; oxidative stress; silymarin