Described are a plurality of risk factors that may be treated and conditions that may be prevented and treated by administering to a patient a preparation containing a licorice extract, which is water insoluble and free from glycyrrhizinic acid. Risk factors that may be lowered include hypertension, high blood glucose concentration, LDL susceptibility to retention, LDL susceptibility to aggregation, blood total cholesterol and LDL levels, and blood tryglicerides and VLDL concentration. Conditions and diseases that may be treated according to the invention include aterosclerotic diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic renal failure, carotid artery stenosis, coronary heart diseases, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia.