Improved lipid profile in hyperlipidemic patients taking Vaccinium arctostaphylos fruit hydroalcoholic extract: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Dyslipidemia is a common contributory cause of cardiovascular disease. Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. (Caucasian whortleberry) fruit is rich of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins may exert cardioprotective effects by various mechanisms such as favorably modulating dyslipidemia. Therefore, in this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial with hyperlipidemic (hypercholesterolemic and/or hypertriglyceridemic) patients aged 20-60 years, the effects of taking a standardized whortleberry fruit hydroalcoholic extract (one 350 mg capsule every 8 h for 2 months) on fasting blood levels of lipids, creatinine and liver enzymes including SGOT and SGPT were evaluated in 40 patients and compared with the placebo group (n = 40). The extract lowered the blood levels of total cholesterol (P < 0.001), triglyceride (P = 0.002) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.002), but increased the blood high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (P < 0.001) without any significant effects on the blood levels of SGOT, SGPT and creatinine (P > 0.05) compared with the placebo group at the endpoint. Whortleberry reduced total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C 27.6%, 19.2% and 26.3%, respectively, but increased HDL-C 37.5% compared with baseline. No adverse effects were reported. Short-term treatment with whortleberry fruit appears safe and improves lipid profile in hyperlipidemic patients.