Lipid-Lowering Efficacy of Red Yeast Rice in a Population Intolerant to Statins

Chinese red yeast rice is a dietary supplement containing monacolins, unsaturated fatty acids, and phytosterols capable of lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Few studies have reported on its use in clinical practice or in statin-intolerant patients. We reviewed approximately 1,400 c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of cardiology 2010-03, Vol.105 (5), p.664-666
Main Authors: Venero, Carmelo V., MD, Venero, Jose V., MD, Wortham, Dale C., MD, Thompson, Paul D., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Alanine transaminase
Biological and medical sciences
Biological Products - therapeutic use
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular
Cholesterol
Cholesterol - blood
Clinical outcomes
Cohort Studies
Dietary supplements
Female
Humans
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - adverse effects
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use
Hyperlipidemias - drug therapy
Lipids
Low density lipoprotein
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Muscular Diseases - chemically induced
Oryza sativa
Retrospective Studies
Rice
Risk Factors
Treatment Outcome
Triglycerides - blood
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Summary:Chinese red yeast rice is a dietary supplement containing monacolins, unsaturated fatty acids, and phytosterols capable of lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Few studies have reported on its use in clinical practice or in statin-intolerant patients. We reviewed approximately 1,400 clinical charts and identified 25 patients treated with red yeast rice for ≥4 weeks. The patients were included if they had pre- and post-treatment lipid levels without simultaneous changes in other lipid-lowering medications. These patients had experienced myalgias (68%), gastrointestinal intolerance (16%), and/or elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (8%) with previous use of other lipid-lowering agents. The total cholesterol decreased 15% (−37 ± 26 mg/dl, p
ISSN:0002-9149
1879-1913
DOI:10.1016/j.amjcard.2009.10.045