Hypolipidemic effect of saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (TJ-12) in patients with type II or type IV hyperlipidemia

Abstract This open-label, uncontrolled trial evaluated the effect of Kampo medicine. Saiko-ka-ryukotsu-borei-to (TJ-12), on plasma lipids and apolipoproteins in 21 patients (3 men and 18 women) with type II or type IV hyperlipidemia. The mean age of the patients was 60.2 ± 7.2 years and the mean weight was 55.9 ± 9.4 kg. Twelve weeks after daily administration of 7.5 g of TJ-12, total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels, and the atherogenic index (defined as the difference between total cholesterol levels and high-density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol levels divided by HDL-cholesterol levels) were significantly decreased (pretreatment vs posttreatment mean value, 263 ± 31 mg/dL vs 239 ± 36 mg/dL, 177 ± 39 mg/dL vs 163 ± 35 mg/dL, and 4.3 ± 8.9 mg/dL vs 3.8 ± 8.7 mg/DL, respectively). There was a significant positive correlation between the change in total cholesterol levels and that in LDL-cholesterol levels. These results suggest that TJ-12 might diminish atherogenesis by reducing the plasma levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.