Abstract
This study aimed to test the effects of xuezhikang, a cholestin extract that contains statin-like components, on arterial stiffness in patients with essential hypertension. One hundred hypertensive patients from the Chinese PLA General Hospital were randomly allocated to receive xuezhikang (1200 mg/day, orally) or placebo (same capsules containing only pharmaceutical excipients). Physical examination outcomes, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) levels, and arterial outcomes, including stiffness parameter (β), pressure-strain elasticity modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), augmentation index (AI), and one-point pulse wave velocity (PWVβ) were obtained at baseline and after 6 months of the intervention. Xuezhikang significantly reduced β (8.4±3.1 vs 6.8±2.1, P=0.007), Ep (122.8±43.9 vs 100.7±33.2, P=0.009), PWVβ (6.7±1.2 vs 6.1±1.0, P=0.013), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.4±0.6 vs 2.9±0.5, P=0.001), hs-CRP [2.1 (0.4-10.0) vs 1.4 (0.3-4.1), P=0.020], and MMP-9 (17.2±2.4 vs 12.7±3.8, P <0.001) compared to baseline. The placebo had no effect on these parameters. The changes of PWVβ in the xuezhikang group was significantly associated with the changes of hs-CRP and MMP-9 (r=0.144, P=0.043; r=0.278, P=0.030, respectively) but not with lipid profile changes. Our research showed xuezhikang can improve the parameters of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, and its effect was independent of lipid lowering.
Highlights
Arterial stiffness, characterized by imbalances between vasodilator and vasoconstrictive factors, could result in increased pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is associated with functional sclerotic changes in elastic and collagen fibers of the arteries [1,2]
Xuezhikang significantly decreased the levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C, and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, which is consistent with previous studies [12,20]
Xuezhikang led to a significant reduction in arterial stiffness parameters such as b, Ep, and PWVb and reduced the levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), Hcy, and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9)
Summary
Arterial stiffness, characterized by imbalances between vasodilator and vasoconstrictive factors, could result in increased pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is associated with functional sclerotic changes in elastic and collagen fibers of the arteries [1,2]. Statins are by far the most widely used lipid-lowering drugs [7]. Compelling clinical trials and meta-analyses have shown primary and secondary prevention with statins, consistently showing reductions of cardiovascular events [7]. The effects of statin therapy on PWV were not consistent in trials [8,9,10], with one study showing a significant increase in carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) after treatment [11]. Xuezhikang is a partial extract of red yeast rice, contains naturally occurring statins, and has good lipid modulating effect [12]. Xuezhikang efficiency was supported by the 2007 Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Blood Lipid Abnormality in Chinese Adults (GPTBLACA) based on the China Coronary Secondary Prevention study [13]. It is a safe drug that can effectively lower the rate of coronary events, coronary death, and all-cause mortality
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
