Effects of a nutraceutical combination of monacolin, γ-oryzanol and γ-aminobutyric acid on lipid profile and C-reactive protein in mice

Arch Med Sci. 2019 May;15(3):792-796. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2018.75193. Epub 2018 Apr 16.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two nutraceutical agents aimed to improve lipid profile in a sample of mice.

Material and methods: Fifty mice were randomly divided into four groups. Control mice were fed a standard diet (SD), while the other three groups were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks. At the end of the run-in period, mice fed with the SD continued to follow the SD, while mice fed with the HFD were divided into three groups: one continued with the HFD, one continued to follow the HFD + a blend of natural components derived from rice and fermented rice (monacolin K 3%, γ-oryzanol, and γ-aminobutyric acid) (S1), and the other one followed the HFD + one nutraceutical containing monacolin K 3% alone for 24 weeks.

Results: The results showed that mice treated with HFD + S1 and HFD + S2 had lower levels of TC compared to mice fed with the HFD alone (p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively). Moreover, mice treated with HFD + S1 had lower TC and LDL-C levels compared to mice fed with HFD + S2 (p < 0.05). Mice treated with HFD + S1 or S2 had lower Tg levels compared to mice fed with the HFD (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: We can conclude that a combination of monacolin K 3%, γ-oryzanol, and γ-aminobutyric acid is more effective than monacolin K 3% alone in reducing the negative effects of a HFD in a sample of specific pathogen-free mice.

Keywords: diet; lipid profile; mice; monacolin K; nutraceutical.