Red yeast rice (RYR) has been shown to significantly reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. RYR is a traditional Chinese cuisine and is prepared by fermenting Monascus purpureus yeast with rice. The extracts from RYR contain starch, sterols, isoflavones, and compounds called monacolins, substances known to inhibit cholesterol synthesis.
In a 12-week double blind, placebo-controlled, eighty-three healthy subjects with hyperlipidemia were treated with RYR supplement or placebo. Total cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly in the red yeast rice treated group compared with the placebo treated group, and LDL cholesterol and total triacylglycerol were also reduced with the supplement.
In another randomized trial 74 patients with hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol) were randomized to an alternative treatment group (AG) or to receive simvastatin (40 mg/d). The alternative treatment included therapeutic lifestyle changes, ingestion of RYR, and fish oil supplements for 12 weeks. The simvastatin group received medication and traditional counseling. There was a statistically significant reduction in LDL cholesterol levels in both the AG (–42.4%) and the simvastatin group (–39.6%). The AG also demonstrated significant reductions in triglycerides and weight compared with the simvastatin group.
The results of a meta-analysis (review of studies) by researchers from the University of Tromso in Norway, Shanghai University of Traditional Medicine and Beijing University of Chinese Medicine of ninety-three randomized trials (9625 participants), showed RYR to significantly reduce total cholesterol levels, triglycerides levels and LDL cholesterol levels, and increase HDL cholesterol levels.
Red yeast rice extract supplements are available from
GNC (No Sugar, No Salt, No Wheat, No Gluten, No Soy, No Milk, No Egg, No Shellfish, No Preservatives)
References:
1. Heber D, Yip I, Ashley JM, Elashoff DA, Elashoff RM, Go VL. Cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999 Feb;69(2):231-6. PMID: 9989685.
2. DAVID J. BECKER, RAM Y. GORDON, PATTI B. MORRIS, JACQUELINE YORKO, Y. JEROLD GORDON, MINGYAO LI, NAYYAR IQBAL. Simvastatin vs Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes and Supplements: Randomized Primary Prevention Trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:758-764.
3. Jianping Liu, et al. Chinese red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) for primary hyperlipidemia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Chinese Medicine 2006, 1:4doi:10.1186/1749-8546-1-4.
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