Research » Lowering Cholesterol - Lipid-Lowering Efficacy of Red Yeast Rice in a Population Intolerant to Statins
Lowering Cholesterol - 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. Supplements of red yeast rice (RYR) are an effective alternative to statin medications in lowering blood cholesterol levels and reducing heart-disease risk, according to numerous studies:
A recent review published in the American Journal of Cardiology (1), evaluated red yeast rice therapy in patients who were intolerant to statin medication: at the University of Tennessee, RYR supplements lowered total cholesterol 15% and LDL cholesterol 21% with more than nine out of ten patients experiencing little or no side effects.
At the University of Turin in Italy, RYR supplements lowered blood cholesterol 18.5 % and LDL cholesterol 25.1 % with no side effects in children with familial hypercholesterolemia. (2) University of Pennsylvania researchers report that RYR supplements were more effective than statins in lowering LDL cholesterol. (3)
Statins are effective therapeutic agents for reducing LDL cholesterol and have documented effectiveness. However, a significant subset of patients (5-18%), cannot tolerate lipid lowering statin therapy due to intolerable muscle-related symptoms characterized by muscle pain and/or weakness. These symptoms affect quality of life and lead to poor adherence. (1)
The findings from the recent studies bring an option to patients who are seeking for an alternative therapy to manage hypercholesterolemia if they have been intolerant of statin therapy or just looking for a herbal alternative to the allopathic medication.
Lowering Cholesterol References
1 Venero C, Venero J, Wortham D, et al: Lipid-lowering efficacy of red yeast rice in a population intolerant to statins. American Journal of Cardiology 2010;105:664-666
2 Guardamagna O, Abello F, Stassiowska B, et al: The treatment of hypercholesterolemic children. Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Disease 2010; February 10th
3 Halbert S, French B, Gordon R, et al: Tolerability of red yeast rice (2,400mg twice daily) versus pravastatin (20mg twice daily) in patients with previous statin intolerance. American Journal of Cardiology 2010;105:198-204
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