Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-150-12-200906160-00006

Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients

A Randomized Trial

From Chestnut Hill Hospital, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Abstract

Background: Red yeast rice is an herbal supplement that decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of red yeast rice and therapeutic lifestyle change to treat dyslipidemia in patients who cannot tolerate statin therapy.

Design: Randomized, controlled trial.

Setting: Community-based cardiology practice.

Patients: 62 patients with dyslipidemia and history of discontinuation of statin therapy due to myalgias.

Intervention: Patients were assigned by random allocation software to receive red yeast rice, 1800 mg (31 patients), or placebo (31 patients) twice daily for 24 weeks. All patients were concomitantly enrolled in a 12-week therapeutic lifestyle change program.

Measurements: Primary outcome was LDL cholesterol level, measured at baseline, week 12, and 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.

Results: In the red yeast rice group, LDL cholesterol decreased by 1.11 mmol/L (43 mg/dL) from baseline 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. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was significantly lower in the red yeast rice group than in the placebo group at both weeks 12 (P < 0.001) and 24 (P = 0.011). Significant treatment effects were also observed for total cholesterol level at weeks 12 (P < 0.001) and 24 (P = 0.016). 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.

Limitation: The study was small, was single-site, was of short duration, and focused on laboratory measures.

Conclusion: 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.

Primary Funding Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Article and Author Information

Acknowledgment: The authors thank Y. Jerold Gordon, MD, for his thoughtful comments and review of the manuscript.
Grant Support: By grant T32AT000600 from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Dr. Halbert) and an unrestricted grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest: None disclosed.
Reproducible Research Statement: Study protocol, statistical code, and data set: Available from Dr. Becker (e-mail, dbeckerchcardiology{at}hotmail.com).
Requests for Single Reprints: David J. Becker, MD, 1722 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031; e-mail, dbeckerchcardiology{at}hotmail.com.
Current Author Addresses: Drs. Becker and Gordon and Ms. Morris: 1722 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown, PA 19031.
Dr. Halbert: Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 108 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Dr. French: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 625 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Dr. Rader: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 654 BRBII/III, 421 Cure Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Author Contributions: Conception and design: D.J. Becker, R.Y. Gordon, S.C. Halbert.
Analysis and interpretation of the data: D.J. Becker, R.Y. Gordon, S.C. Halbert, B. French, D.J. Rader.
Drafting of the article: D.J. Becker, R.Y. Gordon, S.C. Halbert.
Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content: D.J. Becker, R.Y. Gordon, S.C. Halbert, B. French, D.J. Rader.
Final approval of the article: D.J. Becker, R.Y. Gordon, B. French, D.J. Rader.
Provision of study materials or patients: D.J. Becker, R.Y. Gordon, P.B. Morris.
Statistical expertise: S.C. Halbert, B. French.
Obtaining of funding: D.J. Becker.
Administrative, technical, or logistic support: D.J. Becker, P.B. Morris, D.J. Rader.
Collection and assembly of data: D.J. Becker, S.C. Halbert, P.B. Morris.
ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00405769.

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