{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,5]],"date-time":"2026-10-05T19:49:16Z","timestamp":1791229756230,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,19]],"date-time":"2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747612800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":18,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000002","name":"National Institutes of Health","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["UL1TR001442"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UL1TR001442"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000002","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Clinical Translational Sci"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title><jats:p>Statins play an instrumental role in reducing and managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) but can be difficult to tolerate due to muscle\u2010associated side effects. There remains an unmet need for strategies that improve statin tolerance and synergize their effect on atherogenic lipids. (\u2212)\u2010Epicatechin (Epi) is a natural flavonoid that can improve lipid biomarkers and mitochondrial function. This study explored the capacity of Epi to augment statin's beneficial effects on lipid profile and ASCVD risk parameters. In total, 19 patients completed a randomized, double\u2010blind placebo\u2010controlled trial. The study consisted of two cohorts. Cohort 1 consisted of healthy patients with elevated low\u2010density lipoprotein (LDL) &gt;\u2009100\u2009mg\/dL and was used to determine appropriate Epi dosing. Cohort 2 consisted of patients with metabolic syndrome. Patients were randomized into statin\u2010only (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20098; 5 in Cohort 2) or statin + Epi (<jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u200911; 8 in Cohort 2) for 3\u2009months. VO<jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub> max and lipid biomarkers were assessed at baseline and at the end of 3\u2009months. Final analysis included Cohort 2 only. The statin + Epi group saw significant beneficial changes in total cholesterol (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.002) and non\u2010HDL cholesterol (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.007). There was a significantly larger increase in HDL (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.037) and significantly greater decrease in LDL particle number (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.0003) and small LDL particle number (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\u2009=\u20090.003) among the statin + Epi group compared to statin\u2010only. Ten\u2010year ASCVD risk was significantly lower at end\u2010of\u2010study for the statin + Epi arm compared to statin\u2010only (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &lt; 0.05). No VO<jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub> max differences were found. This is the first proof\u2010of\u2010concept study to show combination therapy of a statin with Epi is safe and effective in augmenting statin\u2010associated improvements in lipid biomarkers.<\/jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold>Trial Registration:<\/jats:bold> <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" xlink:href=\"http:\/\/clinicaltrials.gov\">ClinicalTrials.gov<\/jats:ext-link>: NCT02490527<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1111\/cts.70236","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,19]],"date-time":"2025-05-19T10:36:16Z","timestamp":1747650976000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Enhancement of Statin Effects on Lipid Lowering and Reduction of Cardiovascular Risk Score by (\u2212)\u2010Epicatechin in Proof\u2010of\u2010Concept Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3598-616X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cameron 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