A blood lipid lowering agent that functions through a same mechanism as berberine (e.g. berberine, one or more pharmacologically acceptable salts of berberine or a mixture thereof) and a blood lipid lowering agent that functions through a different mechanism than berberine (e.g. phytosterols, phytostanols, esters thereof or mixtures thereof) act synergistically to improve blood lipid profiles, for example, lowering total cholesterol, LDL-C or nonHDL-C, and triglyceride, and increasing the ratio of HDL-C to nonHDL-C. The two may be used in combination to treat or reduce the chance of contracting cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, angina, cerebrovascular disease, stroke, overweight or obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertension, arrhythmia, diseases of the central nervous system, diseases of the peripheral nervous system and/or inflammation. The blood lipid lowering agent that functions through a same mechanism as berberine, with or without the blood lipid lowering agent that functions through a different mechanism than berberine, may also be used to control weight.
