New study to confirm positive effect of artichoke formula on cholesterol

A new study that could help lower people’s cholesterol levels using a natural medicine formula based on globe artichokes is about to be conducted at Southern Cross University (SCU).

The study comes after a trial at the university last year involving 40 people that showed a promising result, with the formulation lowering elevated cholesterol levels.

“We now want to confirm and extend this result,” trial co-ordinator Dr Joan O’Connor said.

The research is being carried out by the Australian Centre for Complementary Medicine Education and Research (ACCMER), a joint venture of the University of Queensland and SCU.

“High cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death in Australia,” said one of the trial investigators, Hans Wohlmuth, a Lecturer in Phytotherapy in SCU’s School of Natural and Complementary Medicine.

“Often conventional drugs used to treat high cholesterol produce side-effects, which we hope this medication will avoid,” Mr Wohlmuth said.

The researchers are seeking 35 people aged 18 to 74, with cholesterol levels over 4 mmol/L and under 10 mmol/L, who are otherwise healthy. People involved in the study would need to come to the university for 20 minutes, four times over six months.

Participants would need to stop taking any cholesterol-lowering medication during the six-month study, as well as give up any nutritional or herbal supplements.

“We’d also like to reassure people that the natural medicine formula is of high quality and made to rigorous manufacturing standards,” Dr O’Connor said.

Interested participants can contact Dr Joan O’Connor, Clinical Trials Co-ordinator with ACCMER, at Southern Cross University, Ph: 6620 3649.

Media contact: Sara Crowe in the SCU media liaison unit, Ph: 6620 3144.