The combination supplement of resveratrol, pterostilbene, niacin, quercetin, and delta-tocotrienol for six weeks was associated with reductions in markers of inflammation, like C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as significant reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology.
The combination supplement was also found to reduce levels of gamma-glutamyl-transferase (gamma-GT), a predictor for non-fatal myocardial infarction and fatal coronary heart disease, wrote researchers led by Asaf Qureshi of the University of Missouri – Kansas City, who – in the early 80s – was the first to discover tocotrienol’s cholesterol-lowering properties.
“Long-term, moderate consumption of these specific compounds could play an important role in their cardio-protective actions,” wrote the researchers.
Supplement details
The study supplement used delta-tocotrienol rich vitamin from annatto (American River Nutrition’s DeltaGold product), trans-resveratrol from ‘Mega Resveratrol’ (Danbury, CT, USA), trans-pterostilbene from Shanxi Yong Yuan, Biotechnology Co, Ltd. (China), and nicotinic acid (niacin) from Voigt Global Distribution Inc. (Kansas, USA), and quercetin from Alfa Aesar (Johnson Matthey Co., UK).
Commenting on the research, Barrie Tan, president of American River Nutrition Inc. said that, to his knowledge, “this is the first study to address the two faces of cardiovascular diseases simultaneously, namely lipids and inflammation.”
“Before this clinical study, Dr. Qureshi arrived at the careful and judicious combination of delta-tocotrienol, resveratrol, quercetin, pterostilbene, and niacin through numerous prior cell line and animal studies, where he also showed that of the four tocotrienol isomers, delta was the most potent for lipid reduction and inflammation.”
The new results are consistent with an earlier study from Dr. Qureshi’s group, which included morin hydrate and riboflavin in the supplement formulation (Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, doi: 10.4172/2155-9880.S5-008).
Study details
For the new study, the researchers performed two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cross-over trials using the ingredient combination in healthy seniors and hypercholesterolemic people on the American Heart Association’s Step-1-diet.
The seniors were divided into two groups, one of which was supplemented with the combination supplement and the other with placebo, while the hypercholesterolemic people were divided into two groups, one of which was given the supplement, and one group was given placebo.
The daily dosage of delta-tocotrienol, niacin, resveratrol and pterostilbene was 100mg each, and 200mg for quercetin.
Results showed significant decreases in blood levels of nitric oxide (NO), inflammatory biomarkers, and also reduced lipid levels in the hypercholesterolemic subjects. Furthermore, a moderate drop in blood pressure was observed, the researchers noted.
Commenting on the potential effects of the ingredients, the researchers note that niacin is known to be an effective hypotriglyceridemic agent, while quercetin and resveratrol are antioxidant polyphenols that have been indicated in the quenching of inflammatory cytokines. Resveratrol also degrades cholesterol via bile acid, they said. Pterostilbene – derived from blueberries – is a relative of resveratrol, and was found to have anti-hyperlipidemic properties.
“The decreases in serum levels of NO, CRP, gamma-GT activity, total and LDL- cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure by NS-5 (resveratrol, pterostilbene, quercetin, δ-tocotrienol, and nicotinic acid; NS-5) capsules may be of clinical significance with regards to host defense mechanisms and treatment of inflammatory diseases,” concluded the researchers.
Source: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology
2013, Volume 4, Pages 238, doi: 10.4172/2155-9880.1000238
“Nutritional Supplement-5 with a combination of proteasome inhibitors (resveratrol, quercetin, delta-tocotrienol) modulate age-associated biomarkers and cardiovascular lipid parameters in human subjects”
Authors: A.A. Qureshi, D.A. Khan, W. Mahjabeen, C. J. Papasian, N. Qureshi