title: Efficacy of Monascus purpureus Went rice on lowering lipid ratios in hypercholesterolemic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several lipid ratios may be predictors of coronary artery disease risk. We assessed the efficacy of Monascus purpureus Went rice (red yeast rice) on lowering lipid ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 79 hypercholesterolemic patients (aged 23-65 years) who received a twice-daily dose of either red yeast rice or a placebo at 600 mg for 8 weeks. The 8-week treatment with red yeast rice showed significantly greater reduction than the placebo treatment in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratios.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Red yeast rice can reduce lipid ratios in hypercholesterolemic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chien-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tsai-Chung
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cheng-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chiu-Shong
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hung-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Ming-May
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002214:Capsules; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D032741:Monascus; D008517:Phytotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001688:Biological Products; D002214:Capsules; D008055:Lipids; C117343:red yeast rice; D002784:Cholesterol