Artichoke Leaf May Lower Cholesterol

READING, England—Artichoke leaf extract consumption resulted in a modest but favorable statistically significant difference in total cholesterol after 12 weeks in a recent randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial (Phytomedicine. 2008) (DOI:10.1016/j.phymed.2008.03.001). One hundred and thirty-one otherwise healthy adults with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia were screened for total plasma cholesterol in the range 6.0 to 8.0 mmol/l, with 75 suitable volunteers randomized into the trial. Volunteers consumed 1,280 mg/d of a standardized artichoke leaf extract (ALE) or a matched placebo for 12 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol decreased in the treatment group by an average of 4.2 percent and increased in the control group by an average of 1.9 percent, the difference between groups being statistically significant (P=0.025). No significant differences between groups were observed for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or triglyceride levels. General well-being improved significantly in both the treatment (11 percent) and control groups (9 percent) with no significant differences between groups. In comparison with a previous trial, it is suggested that the apparent positive health status of the study population may have contributed to the modesty of the observed response.