Effects of Chios Mastiha Essential Oil on Cholesterol Levels of Healthy Volunteers

Background Chios Mastiha essential oil (CMO) is a natural product extracted from the resin of Mastiha, possessing antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer,anti-neoplasmatic and cholesterol lowering capabilities in vitro, and its hypolipidemic effect was confirmed in animal studies. Yet, there are no randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies in the literature regarding CMO's hypolipidemic effects in humans.

Design A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to study the hypolipidemic effect of CMO capsules on healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol levels.

Methods 192 healthy volunteers were screened and eventually 160 of them with total cholesterol> 200 mg/dl participated in the study. They were randomized with a 2:1 ratio of receiving CMO capsules (containing 200 mg mastiha oil per capsule) and placebo for a total of 8 weeks respectively. 113 patients received CMO and 47 were randomized in the control group, and all of them completed the follow-up period.

Inclusion criteria

• Increased total cholesterol >200 mg/dl, in adult volunteers (≥18 years old) of any gender, not amenable or not willing to receive pharmaceutical therapy.

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in any other study during the recruitment period
• Contribution in the design or accomplishment of the study
• Known cardiovascular disease (coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, aortic aneurysm)
• Patients in high or very high risk of CVD according to SCORE2
• Subjects amenable to pharmaceutical lipid-lowering regimens according to current guideline, or any other pharmaceutical regimen with hypolipidemic effects