The effect of bergamot polyphenolic fraction in patients with non alcoholic liver steato-hepatitis and metabolic syndrome

- The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MS) represents an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease states in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) in patients with MS and non alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) induces a significant reduction of fasting plasma glucose, serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides alongside with an increase of HDL cholesterol.
- We suggest a potential preventive role of bergamot derivatives in reducing cardiometabolic risk.

The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MS) represents an independent risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease states in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus. Moreover, both the size of LDL particles and liver dysfunction identified as non alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) represent important biomarkers for the development of cardiometabolic risk in patients with MS. Recent evidence shows that bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) in patients with MS and NASH induces a significant reduction of fasting plasma glucose, serum LDL cholesterol and triglycerides alongside with an increase of HDL cholesterol. In addition, a significant reduction of both ultrasonographic, TC scans and metabolic biomarkers of NASH as well as a significant reduction of small dense LDL particles were found after BPF treatment suggesting a beneficial effect of bergamot-extract in patients with MS and NASH. This suggests a potential preventive role of bergamot derivatives in reducing cardiometabolic risk.