title: Antihyperlipidaemic effect of a Monascus purpureus brand dietary supplement on a large sample of subjects at low risk for cardiovascular disease: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We planned to carry out a pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety as an antihypercholesterolemic agent of a brand dietary supplement made of Monascus purpureus titrated extract, octacosanols and niacin on 111 Caucasian patients with low cardiovascular disease risk (<20% by Framingham algorithms), comparing them with the antihypercholesterolemic effect of a low dosage of Pravastatin on 20 subjects with similar risk profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, the tested dietary supplement determined a significant decrease of Total Cholesterol (TC), Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), and Triglycerides (TG) in moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects without clinically relevant change in liver and muscular toxicity markers. The reduction of LDL-C reached the 20%, and it is similar to that obtained with a well-known effective statin like Pravastatin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further long-term and double blind evaluation have to be carried out before to infer the observed results, however it appears that the studied dietary supplements could be a safe and efficacious antihypercholesterolemic agent for patients at low risk for cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Applied Biotechnology, Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Diseases Study Centre G. Descovich, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital Via Massarenti, 9-40138 Bologna, Italy. afgcicero@cardionet.it
authors.forename: Arrigo F G
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cicero
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brancaleoni
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laghi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002214:Capsules; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032741:Monascus; D009525:Niacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012306:Risk; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D002214:Capsules; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009525:Niacin; C044309:1-octacosanol