Powdered red yeast rice and plant stanols and sterols to lower cholesterol.

摘要

Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that 42% of females and 34% of males in the USA have elevated total cholesterol. The current mainstay of lipid-lowering therapy utilizes 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coezyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor (i.e., statin) medications that lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by an average of 20 and 28%, respectively. However, due to the significant side effects of statin medications, many patients seek alternative therapies to help manage their hypercholesterolaemia. Red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus), which has been used as a food and herbal medication in China for centuries, and phytosterols, which are similar in structure and function to animal cholesterol, have both been shown in clinical studies to significantly lower LDL cholesterol. This study examined the effects on cholesterol indices in a case series of 18 patients with hypercholesterolaemia, despite therapeutic lifestyle change through diet and exercise, who took a proprietary product combining red yeast rice and phytosterols as a powdered shake. Statistically significant reductions (p < 0.05) in mean total cholesterol (19% (46 mg/dl)) and LDL (33% (53 mg/dl)) were observed after 6 wk using the blend. There was no significant difference in body mass index (BMI), triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, or systolic and diastolic blood pressure over the same period. This magnitude of reduction in LDL cholesterol was significantly greater than the 28% reduction previously observed in a meta-analysis on the average effectiveness of statin medications in lowering cholesterol levels. None of the participants in the study reported any muscle pains, and no abnormal liver function test results were seen while taking the product. Though this case series is limited by small sample size, study duration and lack of control group, the product's significant reduction in LDL cholesterol without severe side effects indicated that it may be a clinically effective and well tolerated alternative treatment to using statin medications to treat hypercholesterolaemia.