Ocimum canum seed supplementation did not influence serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic patients

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of nutrition counseling with Ocimum canum seed supplementation on serum lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects. An experimental trial was conducted at Makarak Hospital, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Thirty subjects (2 males and 28 females) with serum cholesterol concentrations higher than 5.20 mmol/L and not currently taking lipid-lowering medication were enrolled in the study. The study included a 6-week nutrition counseling period (dietary control only), followed by a 6-week nutrition counseling with O. canum seed supplementation period. During the supplementation period, the subjects received 15 g of O. canum seeds per day. Serum levels for total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerols were determined at baseline, week 6, and week 12. Anthropometrics and nutrient intake were also assessed. Subjects significantly increased their fiber intake from 7.35 ± 3.48 g/d initially to 17.91 ± 3.79 g/d after nutrition counseling with O. canum supplementation (P < .05). There was a nonsignificant trend for lower TC and LDL-C levels after counseling alone and counseling with O. canum supplementation. This study demonstrates that nutrition counseling appears to produce a favorable albeit small change in serum lipids. Addition of O. canum seed supplementation to nutrition counseling did not provide additional benefit in reducing TC and LDL-C levels.