Treatment
of Hyperlipidemia with Vital Cell
Xiyuan Hospital,
Beijing Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine
National Center for Traditional Chinese Treatment of Gerontological
Diseases
We report the clinical observations of patients
with hyperlipidemia treated with Vital Cell, a modern Chinese
herbal formula. The study was undertaken during April 1999
through May 1999.
Patient
Selection
Patients were enrolled in the study based on the Chinese medicine
diagnosis of impaired circulation accompanied by a medical
diagnosis of primary hyperlipidemia as confirmed by the following
serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels (normal diet, 2
fasting appraisals completed within 2 weeks): total serum
cholesterol level (TCL) >230 mg/dL, triglyceride levels
>140 mg/dL, and/or high density lipoprotein levels (HDL)
<40 mg/dL (males) and <45 mg/dL (females). Additionally,
low-density lipoprotein (LDL), ApoA, and ApoB levels, as well
as the TCL/HDL ratio were determined.
Individuals with the following
presentations were excluded from the study: <18 and >75
years of age; pregnant and breastfeeding; allergies and/or
hypersensitivity to the Vital Cell formula; myocardial infarction
during the past 6 months; cerebral hemorrhage; history of
severe trauma or major surgery; hypothyroidism due to kidney
disease; hyperlipidemia due to acute/chronic liver/gallbladder
disorder, and/or to diabetes; rheumatism; genetic hypercholesterolemia;
drug-induced hyperlipidemia; heparin use; other medications
that interfere with serum lipid metabolism, or that lower
serum lipid levels; mental disorders.
Methods
Ninety patients were enrolled and divided into two groups
by single blind method. Group I (treatment group) consisted
of 60 individuals, and Group II (comparison group) 30 individuals.
The age range of Group I was 55.26 ± 9.27 years, with
33 males and 27 females. Age range of Group II was 50.78 ±
9.92 years, with 22 males and 8 females.
The two groups were each administered
the following regimen over the 2 month-long study:
Treatment group:
Oral administration of Vital Cell tablet, 850mg per tablet,
3 tablets each time, two times daily.
Comparison group:
Oral administration of gemfibrozil (Lopid) capsules, 600
mg BID.
Results
At the end of the research
period, subjects in both groups underwent laboratory evaluations
to ascertain changes in plasma lipid levels (Table 1).
Conclusions
In this study, we compared
the effects of the modern Chinese herbal formula, Vital Cell,
with gemfibrozil, in altering plasma lipid levels. Vital Cell
was found to be significantly effective in lowering total
cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and ApoA
levels, as well as raising high-density lipoprotein levels.
However, gemfibrozil appears to be more effective than Vital
Cell in lowering triglyceride, total cholesterol/high density
lipoprotein levels, and in raising high density lipoprotein
levels.
Throughout the study period,
no subject reported any side effects with either Vital Cell
or gemfibrozil. Of interest is that some subjects in the treatment
group reported that their symptoms of angina, chest discomfort,
palpitation, and fatigue were either greatly reduced or had
disappeared completely by the end of the study. We suggest
that further investigation be conducted on this cardiovascular
effect of Vital Cell. |
