Synergistic Effects of Turmeric, Strawberry and Broccoli in Improving Lipid Profile in Adult Patients with Hypercholesterolemia

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Turmeric, strawberries and broccoli are popular in the community for their beneficial effects in improving lipid profile, but poor bioavailability and absorption of their phytochemical compounds might reduce their effects while given separately. Therefore, their combination might provide a synergistic enhancement of their property as hypolipidemic agents. This study aims to examine the effects of turmeric, strawberry and broccoli in improving lipid profile in adult patients with hypercholesterolemia. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Twenty hypercholesterolemic adult patients from Unggul Karsa Medika Hospital in Bandung, Indonesia were recruited for the study, they were given 600 mg/day of turmeric/curcuminoid, 100 g of fresh strawberry and 100 g of boiled broccoli for 30 days. The measurement of the patient's characteristics (body weight, height, BMI) and biochemical parameters in the blood (total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, HDL-C, SGOT, SGPT, urea and creatinine) were conducted before and after the treatment. <b>Results:</b> The mean age of the patients was 49.15±1.9 years old, with mean height 1.56±0.014 m, weight 61.43±1.96 kg and mean body mass index 25.25±0.87 kg/m<sup><a href="86677_op">2</a></sup>. Lipid profile before the treatment: Total cholesterol 239.75±6.56 mg/dL, LDL-C 172.9±6.53 mg/dL, HDL-C 66.55±3.37 mg/dL and triglyceride 193.7±18.45 mg/dL; after the treatment: Total cholesterol 220.7±9.39 mg/dL, LDL-C 153.95±9.98 mg/dL, HDL-C 59.2±2.45 mg/dL and triglyceride 145±16.55 mg/dL. The result showed a significant reduction of total cholesterol (p = 0.014), LDL-C (p = 0.036), HDL-C (p = 0.001) and triglyceride (p = 0.015) after the treatment. Other biochemical parameters (SGOT, SGPT, urea and creatinine) showed normal levels before and after the treatment. <b>Conclusion:</b> In summary, supplementation of turmeric, strawberry and broccoli improves lipid profile in adult patients with hypercholesterolemia.