Red Yeast Rice Found to Be Effective in Reducing LDL Cholesterol

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.

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.

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References:
1. Becker DJ, Gordon RY, Halbert SC, French B, Morris PB, Rader DJ. Red yeast rice for dyslipidemia in statin-intolerant patients: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2009 Jun 16;150(12):830-9, W147-9. PMID: 19528562.