Federica  Fogacci,Alessandro  Colletti,Arrigo F.G.  Cicero,Claudio  Borghi,Maddalena  Veronesi,Marilisa  Bove,Marina  Giovannini,
Effects of a combined nutraceutical on glucose and lipid metabolism in women with post-menopausal incident metabolic syndrome: a double-blind, placebocontrolled, randomized clinical trial
Journal of Food Nutrition and Metabolism
2019
2674-2411
http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.JFNM.2019.02.01
https://www.sciencerepository.org/effects-of-a-combined-nutraceutical-on-glucose-and-lipid-metabolism-in-women-with-post-menopausal-incident-metabolic-syndrome_JFNM-2019-2-101 
Abstract: Background: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the impairment of several metabolic and
haemodynamic parameters. Several natural compounds have just demonstrated to improve glucose and lipid
levels in humans.
Aim: To assess the short-term glucose and lipid-lowering effects of a combination of nutraceuticals based
on Lagerstroemia speciosa, Berberis aristata, Curcuma longa, alpha-lipoic acid, chrome picolinate and
folic acid in patients with post-menopausal incident metabolic syndrome.
Methods: We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized clinical trial by
enrolling 40 women in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and affected by metabolic syndrome
occurred in menopause. After 2-week run-in period of dietary standardization, enrolled patients were
allocated to active treatment or placebo for 8 weeks. Data related to lipid pattern, insulin resistance, liver
function and hsCRP were obtained at the beginning and at the end of the study.
Results: No patient experienced any subjective or laboratory adverse event. During the study, there were
no significant changes in waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol in either treatment groups. Subjects randomized to nutraceutical treatment experienced a
significant improvement in triglycerides (TG= -32.2%), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C=
+5.7%), fasting plasma insulin (FPI= -14.1%), and in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance
(HOMA-Index= -27.3%) versus the baseline values, as welle as compared to the placebo-treated group.
Conclusions: The tested nutraceutical compound showed to be effective in improving TG, HDL-C, FPI and
HOMA-Index, with an optimal tolerability profile in patients with post-menopausal incident metabolic
syndrome.Keywords: Nutraceuticals, insulin-sensitivity, metabolic syndrome, impaired fasting glucose