Barberry and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Individuals With Hypertriglyceridemia

This study is an open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial and will recruit those who are willing to participate and meet the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria are fasting serum triglycerides 150-499 mg/dL, body mass index 25-40 kg/m2, age range 18-75 years. Exclusion criteria are regular use of drugs of the fibrate family, regular use of fish oil supplements or omega-3 supplements or flax seed or chia seed, treatment with glucocorticoids, end-stage renal disease. Subjects who agree to participate in the study will be randomly assigned to one of two study groups. All patients in both groups will be prescribed a low-calorie diet. In the first group, 10 grams of powdered seedless barberry will be consumed daily in addition to the low-calorie diet. The second group (control group) will continue with the low calorie diet. The study will last 8 weeks. Patients are asked to refrain from using over-the-counter herbal medicines and dietary supplements during the study. A baseline fasting blood sample, blood pressure measurements, and anthropometric indices will be obtained. Subsequent assessments will be made at four-week and eight-week intervals.

Inclusion criteria

• Fasting serum triglycerides 150-499 mg/dL,
• Body mass index 25-40 kg/m2
• Age range 18-75 years

Exclusion criteria

• Regular use of drugs of the fibrate family, fish oil supplements or omega-3 supplements
• Regular consumption of flax seed or chia seed
• Treatment with glucocorticoids
• End-stage renal disease