High Cholesterol Reduced by Red Yeast Rice

Foods That Lower Cholesterol & Improve Triglyceride Levels

Jul 1, 2009

Is red yeast rice one of the foods that lower cholesterol? A University study about red yeast rice effects on cholesterol levels. Foods to avoid high cholesterol levels.

“The objective [is] to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of red yeast rice, and therapeutic life-style change, to treat dyslipidemia [abnormal amount of organic compounds with proteins in the blood] in patients who cannot tolerate statin therapy [drugs for lowering bad cholesterol],” states an article titled, “”Red yeast rice for dyslipidemia in statin-intolerant patients: a randomized trial.”

The red yeast rice study was conducted by the Chestnut Hill Hospital, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The article is dated June 16, 2009, and the results of the study are published on the PubMed web site. Authors of the article are:

Sixty-two patients were tested who had high amounts of bad cholesterol, and had discontinued drug therapy due to myalgia (muscle pain from drug therapy). Thirty-one of the patients were given a placebo (pills containing no medication). The other thirty-one patients were given 1800 mg of red yeast rice (pill form) twice a day for twenty-four weeks. Also, all sixty-two patients participated in a “therapeutic life-style change program [diet and exercise]."

Cholesterol Levels Lowered with Red Yeast Rice

During the red yeast rice study the LDL (bad cholesterol) level was tested on week twelve and week twenty-four. The patients were also tested for HDL (good cholesterol), triglycerides, liver enzymes, CPK (nitrogen substance in muscle tissue), and pain. The results of the study, in patients given red yeast rice, showed a decrease in bad cholesterol of 43 mg in week twelve, and 35mg. at week twenty-four. The placebo group showed a bad cholesterol decrease of 11mg in week twelve, and 15mg. in week twenty-four.

The red yeast rice study conclusion is that bad cholesterol levels can be reduced by this rice, and may be a option for patients who cannot tolerate drugs to lower bad cholesterol due to the side effect of muscle pain. The indication is that drug therapy is more effective in reducing bad cholesterol.

The entire study is published in the June 16, 2009 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 150, pages 830-839), and with the same title and authors as the PubMed shorter article.

“Abnormal cholesterol levels put people at risk for health problems, including heart attack and stroke...treatment of cholesterol problems with medication is recommended...in some people [drug therapy] can cause muscle pain and weakness,” according to the article titled, “Red Yeast Rice to Treat Cholesterol Problems in Patients Who Cannot Tolerate Statin Therapy Because of Muscle Pain.” The article, dated June 16, 2009, is published on Annals of Internal Medicine web site. The organization was established in 1927 by The American College of Physicians.

The Annals of Internal Medicine (author unknown) article is a review, in layman terms, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine red yeast rice study. To access the article type article title in Annals of Internal Medicine web site.

List of Foods That Help to Lower Cholesterol

The foods that help reduce high cholesterol are “...foods low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol...” according to the American Heart Association (author unknown) article titled, “Tips on Reducing Cholesterol: What should I eat?” The article is dated July 1, 2009. Some of the high cholesterol reducing foods listed are:

High Cholesterol Foods & Foods to Avoid High Cholesterol

The red yeast rice study concluded that this rice may help reduce cholesterol along with a low fat diet and exercise such as aerobics. The American Heart Association article provides lists of the foods to reduce bad cholesterol, and foods that will increase bad cholesterol, along with healthy diet advice.

The copyright of the article High Cholesterol Reduced by Red Yeast Rice in Herbal Properties/Benefits is owned by Bernard P. Nelson. Permission to republish High Cholesterol Reduced by Red Yeast Rice in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.