STUDY REGARDING THE HIPOCHOLESTEROLEMIANT EFFECT OF ISOFLAVONES SUPPLEMENTS OBTAINED FROM TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE

In this study has been evaluated the effect of some isoflavones supplements obtained from Trifolium pratense  (Red Clover) on  blood  cholesterol.  It was  performed  at  the Department  of Cardiology, Rehabilitation Hospital, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in January-March, 2005, and it included 40  persons  with slightly  hypercholesterolemia.  The  first  group  (Group  A-isoflavones)  included  15 subjects with total cholesterol=226.56 ± 15.01 mg/dl and LDL cholesterol = 153.06 ± 6.98 mg/dl; all of them have received a daily dose of 26 mg isoflavones from a red clover supplement called Flavosin. The  second  group  (Control  group  B-diet)  which  has  included  25  subjects  with  total  cholesterol  = 222.21  ±  26.36  mg/dl  and  LDL  cholesterol  =  151.61  ±  61.26  mg/dl,  followed  a  diet  that  is recommended  in hypercholesterolemia;  caloric  needs  have  been  individually  established  and  the average was 1450 ± 268 kcalories /d. At group A, it was founded a significant reduction (p = 0.02) regarding  total  cholesterol  after  three month  of  isoflavonoids  intake  according  to  initial  level,  the percentage reduction being 7.1%. It was also founded a significant increase of HDL cholesterol (p = 0.055) which is a protective factor from atherosclerosis in the case of hypercholesterolemia. The LDL cholesterol  and  triglycerides  reduction was  non  significant  (p  =  0.135,  respectively  p  =  0.055). At Group  B  it  was  founded  a  paradoxical,  but  non  significant,  increase  of  all  lipid  parameters.  In conclusion,  the  results  showed  that  red  clover  supplement was  efficient  in  this  short  term  study  in order  to  reduce  total  cholesterol  and  in  consequence  for  the  prevention  of  atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.