In adults with low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk and suboptimal LDL-C despite dietary intervention, NUT2 produced significant and clinically relevant improvements in LDL-C and total cholesterol over 12 weeks, was safe and well tolerated, and showed additional effects on homocysteine, fasting insulin, and metabolic syndrome prevalence.
NUT2 significantly reduced LDL-C compared to placebo at 12 weeks.
NUT2 significantly reduced total cholesterol compared to placebo at 12 weeks.
NUT2 produced significant reductions in homocysteine compared to placebo.
NUT2 was associated with lower fasting insulin concentrations compared to placebo.
Metabolic syndrome prevalence was significantly lower in the NUT2 group than placebo at Week 12.
No significant between-group difference was observed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP).
NUT2 was well tolerated with no serious treatment-related adverse events over 12 weeks.
The study design was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial in adults with low-to-moderate cardiovascular risk and elevated LDL-C.
This research suggests that a multi-ingredient supplement called NUT2, taken alongside dietary advice for 12 weeks, meaningfully lowered LDL ('bad') cholesterol and total cholesterol in adults who were at low-to-moderate heart disease risk and had not achieved optimal cholesterol levels through diet alone. Specifically, LDL cholesterol fell by about 13% in the NUT2 group while it slightly rose in the placebo group, representing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful difference between the two groups. The supplement also reduced levels of homocysteine (an amino acid linked to cardiovascular risk) and appeared to lower fasting insulin levels compared to placebo, though detailed numbers for these outcomes were not fully reported in the abstract. The study also found that a much smaller proportion of people in the NUT2 group met the criteria for metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol — compared to the placebo group at the end of the trial (13.3% versus 37.8%). However, the researchers themselves flagged this as an exploratory finding based on small numbers, meaning it should be interpreted cautiously. Notably, the supplement did not significantly reduce levels of a common inflammation marker (hsCRP), and the two groups had somewhat different baseline cholesterol levels, which the researchers attempted to account for statistically. No serious side effects related to the supplement were reported. This research suggests that NUT2 may be a useful addition to dietary management for people with mildly elevated cardiovascular risk who cannot or do not wish to use prescription medications, though the study was relatively small and short-term. The authors call for larger studies, particularly in people with metabolic disorders, to confirm whether the benefits seen here — especially on insulin and metabolic syndrome — hold up in broader populations over longer periods.
De Leo V, Citterio C, Smith A, Fawkes N. (2026). Effects of a Multi-Component Nutraceutical (NUT2) on the Lipid Profile in Adults with Low-to-Moderate Cardiovascular Risk: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18162632