"We found that the guggulipid product did not lower the level of LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) in our trial participants, but actually raised LDL-C slightly," said Philippe O. Szapary, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Penn and principal author of the study. Low-density lipoprotein can lead to heart disease by accumulating on arterial walls. It is often identified as "bad" cholesterol by researchers in order to distinguish it from high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol that keeps arteries clear.
The randomized, double-blind, eight-week study at Penn included 103 volunteers who were divided into three groups. One group was given a standard dose (1,000 mg) of guggulipid three times daily; a second group was given a high dose (2,000 mg) of the extract; and the third group was given the placebo.
"We found LDL-C increased by four percent in the standard-dose group and five percent in the high-dose group. At the same time, it decreased by five percent in the placebo group," Szapary said.
Further, "a small subset of patients taking the herb developed a rash indicating they were experiencing hypersensitivity drug reactions," Szapary said. The rash disappeared when they stopped taking the supplement.
"Our findings do not support the use of gugglipid to control LDL-C in the general population," Szapary said. "The results do strengthen our belief that dietary supplements need to be studied in a rigorous way, to test both their safety and their efficacy." He is extending his study to investigate further t
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Contact: Ellen O'Brien
ellen.obrien@uphs.upenn.edu
215-349-5659
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
12-Aug-2003