Cited by 169Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthNatural Products and Biological ResearchCholesterol and Lipid Metabolism

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 63 of the 65 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Traditional Chinese lipid-lowering agent red yeast rice results in significant LDL reduction but safety is uncertain – A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

Objective To verify the safety and effectiveness of traditional Chinese red yeast rice-extract (RYR) for reduction of LDL cholesterol.Methods Systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Medline and EMBASE were searched until November 2014. We selected randomized studies in which RYR with a known content of the active substance monacolin K was tested against placebo or an active control group. Outcome measures were the effect of RYR on LDL cholesterol and incidence of adverse reactions with emphasis on liver and kidney injury and muscle symptoms.Results Twenty studies were analyzed. Quality of safety assessment was low in the majority of studies. RYR lowered LDL cholesterol with 1.02 mmol/L [-1.20; -0.83] compared to placebo. Effect of RYR on LDL was not different from statin therapy (0.03 mmol/L [-0.36; 0.41]). The incidence of liver and kidney injury was 0-5% and the risk was not different between treatment and control groups (risk difference -0.01 [-0.01; 0.0] and 0.0 [-0.01; 0.02]).Conclusions RYR exerts a clinically and statistically significant reduction of 1.02 mmol/L LDL cholesterol. Only when the mild profile of adverse reactions can be affirmed in studies with adequate methodology for safety assessment, RYR might be a safe and effective treatment option for dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk reduction in statin intolerant patients.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2015.04.004

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Becker, 2009, A novel approach to lipid-lowering in patients with statin-associated myalgias: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., 53, A209
  2. Roth, 2013, Red yeast rice extract shows equivalency to statins, Circulation, 128

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Metadata

Authors
Gerards, M. C., Terlou, R. J., Yu, H., Koks, C. H. W., & Gerdes, V. E. A.
Affiliations
  • Slotervaartziekenhuis (NL)
  • Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam (NL)
  • The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NL)
Corresponding author
Gerards, Maaike C.
Venue
Atherosclerosis
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-06
Volume
240
Issue
2
Pages
415-423
ISSN
0021-9150 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1973557710
Cited by
169
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 3
FWCI
2.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Atherosclerosis (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Pharmacology › Natural Products and Biological Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Cholesterol and Lipid Metabolism
Keywords
red yeast rice, lovastatin, LDL cholesterol lowering, lipid-lowering drugs, drug safety, adverse drug reactions, liver injury, kidney injury, muscle symptoms, statin intolerance, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular risk reduction
MeSH terms
Anticholesteremic Agents, Biological Products, Humans, Hypercholesterolemia, Cholesterol, LDL, Lovastatin, Medicine, Chinese Traditional, Risk Factors, Biomarkers, Chi-Square Distribution, Odds Ratio, Treatment Outcome, Risk Assessment, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Dietary Supplements

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