Effects of Chios Mastiha essential oil on cholesterol levels of healthy volunteers: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study

Abstract Introduction Chios Mastiha essential oil (CMO) is a natural product extracted from the resin of Mastiha, possessing antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer, anti-neoplasmatic and cholesterol lowering capabilities in vitro, and its hypolipidemic effect was confirmed in animal studies. Yet, there are no randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies in the literature regarding CMO’s hypolipidemic effects in humans. A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study was designed to study the hypolipidemic effect of CMO capsules on healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol. Methods 192 healthy volunteers were screened and 160 of them with total cholesterol> 200 mg/dl participated in the study. They were randomized with a 2:1 ratio of receiving CMO capsules (200 mg mastiha-oil/capsule) and placebo for 8 weeks respectively. 113 patients received CMO and 47 were randomized in the control group, and all of them completed the follow-up period. Results After 8 weeks of CMO administration, total and LDL cholesterol were significantly lower in the CMO compared to the placebo group 215.2±27.5 vs 237.0±27.9 mg/dl (p<0.001) and 135.0±26.1 vs 153.0±23.3 mg/dl (p<0.001) respectively. No gastrointestinal adverse events, liver or renal toxicity were reported. Additionally, in the CMO group total cholesterol was significantly decreased by 20.6 mg/dl (9%) and LDL by 18.1 mg/dl (12%), triglycerides by 21.8 mg/dl (15%) and glucose by 4.6 mg/dl (5%) and HDL was increased by 2.4 mg/dl (5%), compared to their baseline values. Conclusion MASTIHA-OIL study showed the efficacy and safety of CMO in reduction of Total and LDL-cholesterol after 8 weeks of administration in healthy volunteers with elevated cholesterol levels. Multicenter clinical studies are needed to further study its hypolipidemic effect and establish CMO as a treatment choice for patients with dyslipidemia, given its safety, efficacy and multiple beneficial biologic effects.