Anti-hyperelipidemic effects of Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.): Can sumac strengthen anti-hyperlipidemic effect of statins?

People believe that sumac is used as reducing fat. In the present study, the hypolipidemic effect of sumac fruits was compared with lovastatin in patients suffered hypercholesterolemia. In a randomized double-blinded-controlled trial, 172 patients diagnosed as hypercholesterolemia (high LDL level) and indicated for lipid-lowering schedules were randomly allocated to receive lovastatin (20 mg/day) or a combination of lovastatin (20 mg/day) and sumac (1 gram equivalent to a teaspoon/day, soluble in water). Immediately before initial assessment and also after a 3month period of drugs prescription, the level of serum lipid profile was measured in both intervention groups by enzymatic assay and serum LDL level was determined using the Friedewald’s equation. At baseline, the mean level of LDL was 149.26±22.36 mg/dL in the group received combination therapy, and 146.25±19.89 mg/dL in the group received lovastatin alone with no significant different (p=0.352). However, following administration of the two treatment schedules, the level of LDL was significantly more reduced in combination treatment group compared with another group that the serum level of LDL after 3-month study period was 105.75±21.21 mg/dL in combination therapy group and 117.04±15.78 mg/dL in single therapy group (p<0.001). The positive response rate in the two groups was 93.0% and 75.6%, respectively (p=0.002). Using Multivariable logistic regression model, the use of sumac combined with statin led to higher response rate indicated by lowering serum LDL level (p=0.019). Sumac has a potential role in lowering LDL level especially when combined with anti-hyperlipidemic drugs as statins.