Complementary and/or synergistic effects of phytosterols and curcumin on cardiovascular disease risk factors in hypercholesterolaemic adults.

This research project aimed to investigate if combined dietary supplementation with plant sterols (PS) and curcumin (CC) reduces blood cholesterol and to a larger extent than either of the treatments alone. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally. It is characterised by a vast collection of risk factors that can be modified and not-modified. Abnormal blood cholesterol/fats levels are a major modifiable risk factor. In addition, chronic inflammation goes hand-in-hand with elevated cholesterol to initiate atherosclerosis. More effective treatment/management strategies are required to prevent CVD. This was trialled in adults who had elevated blood cholesterol but were not medicated or taking supplements for their cholesterol, did not have any other chronic diseases, were otherwise healthy and free-living in the community. Participants were to consume the study products daily as part of their habitual diet and lifestyle over 4 weeks. PS-alone and PS+CC significantly reduced fasting total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and total cholesterol-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio in hypercholesterolaemic adults in 4 weeks in a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Concurrent supplementation with PS and CC exhibited enhanced hypocholesterolaemic effects compared to either treatment administered alone. Implications include the development of a novel functional food containing both bioactives, long-term studies and larger samples to further substantiate our findings.