Government of Canada researchers at the National Research Council (NRC) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, have developed a botanical solution to help lower bad cholesterol levels. The combination of botanical extracts may take the form of a dietary supplement, a nutraceutical or an ingredient in a functional food. Common functional foods include calcium-enriched orange juice or yogurt with a probiotic culture.

“The cholesterol-reduction technology discovered by the National Research Council Canada (NRC) Institute for Nutrisciences and Health involves a combination of 98% pure berberine and 92% plant stanols (82% sitostanols and 10% campestanols),” explained Dr. Yanwen Wang, the principal investigator for NRC. “While both berberine and plant stanols inhibit the absorption of cholesterol individually, the combined treatment of berberine and plant stanols synergistically reduced plasma cholesterol levels and significantly reduced liver cholesterol.”

Researchers at the NRC Institute for Nutrisciences and Health started work on this project in late 2004/early 2005. Subsequent research conducted by NRC demonstrated that the botanical blend helped to lower LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol. “Without the side effects associated with statins, NRC’s in vivo trials demonstrated a 42-43% reduction in total cholesterol, a 63-66% reduction in non-HDL cholesterol (LDL + IDL + VLDL) and a 37-50% reduction in triglycerides percentage,” commented Dr. Wang.

There have been two published studies to support the promising findings, both in the journal, Atherosclerosis. The first, titled “Co-administration of berberine and plant stanols synergistically reduces plasma cholesterol in rats” (Xiaoming Jia, Yanfeng Chen, Jeffrey Zidichouski, Junzeng Zhang, Changhao Sun, Yanwen Wang) was published last year (201 (2008) 101-107).

The second, titled “Berberine and plant stanols synergistically inhibit cholesterol absorption in hamsters” (Yanwen Wang, Xiaoming Jia, Khadija Ghanam, Cécile Beaurepaire, Jeffrey Zidichouski, Lisa Miller) is the most current study and was accepted by Atherosclerosis on August 25, 2009. (It is available online via PubMed, however, print volume and page numbers weren’t available at press time.)

The National Research Council Institute for Nutrisciences and Health is one of 11 federally-funded technology cluster initiatives in regions across Canada. The NRC Nutrisciences and Health technology cluster brings together experts from NRC, other government organizations, bioscience industry and universities and colleges to work together to improve the health of Canadians.

“NRC cluster initiatives create a dynamic location where companies, government, and universities can network, invest and bring innovative technologies to market,” said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. “NRC clusters promote productivity, economic growth and competitiveness by putting science to work for Canada.”

In September, NRC licensed the North American rights to its cholesterol-lowering technology to Vancouver-based Omnia Foods Ltd., a private life-sciences company dedicated to research, development and commercialization of nutraceuticals for use in functional foods and natural health products in the field of metabolic syndrome. Omnia’s primary focus is on natural bioactives that are scientifically proven to alleviate metabolic syndrome conditions through management of weight, risk-reduction of coronary heart disease and diabetes.

“Omnia Foods is confident that NRC’s technology will further our efforts to launch new natural health products throughout North America,” said Mira Laza, chief of food technology for Omnia Foods. “As incidences of cardiovascular disease continue to rise, North Americans need safer, more effective options to keep them healthy.”

NRC’s Dr. Wang was enthusiastic about the favorable impact this botanical technology could have. “There is strong potential to develop a natural health product for lowering cholesterol,” he said, and noted that in addition to Omnia Foods’ plans for the North American market, other companies are evaluating the technology for the European market.