article = {JFNM-2019-2-101} title = {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 = {Journal of Food Nutrition and Metabolism} year = {2019} issn = {2674-2411} doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.JFNM.2019.02.01} url = {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 author = { Federica Fogacci,Alessandro Colletti,Arrigo F.G. Cicero,Claudio Borghi,Maddalena Veronesi,Marilisa Bove,Marina Giovannini,} keywords = {Nutraceuticals, insulin-sensitivity, metabolic syndrome, impaired fasting glucose} 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.}