A new Supplement for Metabolic Syndrome in Post-Menopause: “Key Role of High Mobility Group Box1 Protein (HMGB1)”

This is a prospective randomized, controlled, open-label study which was carried out over a two years period. Sixty postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome were enrolled and treated orally with either 2 capsules of a nutraceutical (combination of 480 mcg corosolic acid, 38 mg glycyrrhizic acid and 2.4 mg procyanidin (methyl hydroxicalcone) or placebo. Duration of the administration of either the nutraceutical or placebo was three months. To all 60 women lifestyle changes were suggested, namely moderate aerobic physical activity and hypocaloric diet. The rationale of the study was that each of the three substances in the nutraceutical mixture is known to improve insulin sensitivity by acting at different levels along the complex pathways that characterize insulin action. Outcomes of the study were changes in the anthropometric measures, insulin resistance, lipid profile and thyroid function with corresponding measurements recorded at baseline and end of third month of follow up. Our data highlight the effectiveness of these ancient supplements with insulin-like and antiadipogenesis, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and they demonstrate a possible application of this nutraceutical combination in medical practice. The association of glucose uptake and anti-adipogenesis activity is not found in currently used insulin mimetic drugs and may indicate a good therapeutic potential. This is the first study which has analysed an alternative therapeutic approach in metabolic syndrome in menopause.