Effect of Bergamot and Plant Sterols Extract on Serum Lipid Profile

Overview

The consumption of 2 grams of plant sterols per day has been demonstrated to positively affect total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as supported by various clinical guidelines. These compounds do not exhibit any adverse side effects. The European Society of Cardiology's Dyslipidemia Guidelines indicate that among lifestyle modifications aimed at reducing total cholesterol and LDL, the consumption of functional foods enriched with phytosterols should be included as a high-level recommendation. Bergamot is a citrus fruit rich in flavonoids. Research on bergamot fruit extract has indicated its ability to lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels while increasing high density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol levels. Furthermore, evidence suggests that it may help reduce high serum uric acid levels, which can pose a risk for cardiovascular diseases. The flavonoids in bergamot fruit extract contribute to the reduction of cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Additionally, it has a high capacity to prevent LDL oxidation. A study on individuals with metabolic syndrome observed significant and sustained reductions in serum cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and glucose in those consuming bergamot. This effect was accompanied by significant improvements in vascular reactivity in patients with hyperlipidemia and elevated serum glucose levels. Bergamot also exhibits the ability to inhibit 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. Due to their structural similarity to cholesterol, plant sterols help block the intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol. They provide benefits at the absorption level and increase cholesterol excretion via bile and fecal pathways. The existence of known side effects associated with cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins- including muscle cramps, myopathy, increased risk of muscle toxicity, liver damage, and neuropathy-has created a need for complementary or alternative approaches to treating dyslipidemia. This research will consider the potential of both plant sterols and bergamot as dietary supplements. While cholesterol-lowering diets assist in reducing LDL, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, they do not enhance HDL levels. Because bergamot is known to increase HDL, it could provide an additional benefit in lipid profile regulation. A meta-analysis that studied various phytochemical supplements found that bergamot was the most effective in reducing total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride levels while increasing HDL levels. This study examines the effects of dietary supplementation containing plant sterols and bergamot on blood lipid profiles.

This randomised clinical study, which aims to recruit 69 participants, will include individuals with abnormalities in their blood lipid profiles. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group 1 will receive a cholesterol-lowering diet; Group 2 will take bergamot with phytosterol/stanol supplements; and Group 3 will follow both a cholesterol-lowering diet and consume bergamot with phytosterol/stanol supplements. Participation in the study is voluntary and ethics committee approval has been obtained. Participants will take 2 tablets of bergamot and phytosterol/stanol supplements daily for 12 weeks, either on an empty stomach or with meals. Each 2-tablet dose will contain 375 mg of bergamot fruit extract containing 150 mg of flavonoids and 800 mg of plant sterols obtained from coniferous trees. Participants will be given detailed information about the study at the beginning and those who wish to participate will be asked to sign an informed consent form. Sample Size The sample size for the study was calculated using G\*Power 3.1.9.7 software. Considering the research design, sample calculations were performed using ANOVA F test for group differences. Based on Cohen's medium effect size (d=0.5), 0.05 significance level (α=0.05) and desired power of 0.95, the minimum sample size required for inclusion in the study was determined as 66. Statistical Analyses The findings of the study will be analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) version 25. In the thesis, categorical variables will be summarized using frequency distributions, while quantitative variables will be defined using mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values. In order to reveal the relationships between variables and the differences between variable levels, both parametric and nonparametric methods will be used depending on the normality of the data. The normality of quantitative variables will be evaluated using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests. Parametric methods will be used for variables that show a normal distribution, and nonparametric alternatives will be used for variables that do not conform to a normal distribution. Significance will be determined at the p\<0.05 level.