Red Yeast Rice Found to Be Effective in Reducing LDL Cholesterol

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According to a small study of 62 patients with dyslipidemia and history of

discontinuation of statin therapy, the herbal supplement red yeast rice was

found to be effective in reducing LDL cholesterol.

Dyslipidemia is the elevation of lipids in the blood which may be

manifested by elevation of LDL cholesterol.

The patients were assigned by random allocation software to receive red

yeast rice or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. All patients were enrolled in

a 12-week therapeutic lifestyle change program.

LDL cholesterol levels were measured at the start of study, at week 12,

and at week 24. Secondary outcomes included total cholesterol, high-density

lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglyceride, liver enzyme, and creatinine

phosphokinase (CPK) levels; weight; and Brief Pain Inventory score.

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In the red yeast rice group, LDL cholesterol decreased by 1.11 mmol/L (43

mg/dL) from start of study at week 12 and by 0.90 mmol/L (35 mg/dL) at week

24.

In the placebo group, LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.28 mmol/L (11 mg/dL)

at week 12 and by 0.39 mmol/L (15 mg/dL) at week 24.

LDL cholesterol level was significantly lower in the red yeast rice group

than in the placebo group at both weeks 12 and 24 weeks. Significant

treatment effects were also observed for total cholesterol level at weeks 12

and

24 weeks.

Levels of HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, liver enzyme, or CPK; weight

loss; and pain severity scores did not significantly differ between groups at

either week 12 or week 24.

The researchers concluded that red yeast rice and therapeutic lifestyle

change decrease LDL cholesterol level without increasing CPK or pain levels

and may be a treatment option for dyslipidemic patients who cannot tolerate

statin therapy.