Efficacy and safety of Monascus purpureus Went rice in children and young adults with secondary hyperlipidemia: a preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
Nephrotic dyslipidemia is a risk factor for development of systemic atherosclerosis; also it may aggravate glomerulosclerosis and enhance progression of glomerular disease. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Monascus purpureus Went rice vs. fluvastatin therapy in the management of nephrotic dyslipidemia.


METHODS
Seventy-two patients with idiopathic persistent nephrotic syndrome with secondary dyslipidemia were included. They were randomly allocated into 3 - age and sex - matched groups. The first group comprised of 20 cases and were given Monascus purpureus Went rice, second group comprised 30 cases were given fluvastatin. The remaining 22 received no anti-dyslipidemic therapy and constituted a control group. All of these patients were subjected to thorough laboratory investigations including renal function tests, lipogram and neurological assessment.


RESULTS
Our results showed that both fluvastatin and Monascus purpureus Went rice were well-tolerated with no significant side effects. Both of them significantly reduced cholesterol after 6 months and 1 year. In comparison to baseline values, fluvastatin achieved a significant and progressive reduction of serum cholesterol by 35%, 38% and 42% at 3 months, 6 months and after 1 year respectively (p<0.001). Similar reductions were observed in the Monascus purpureus Went rice group. After one year we observed that serum cholesterol was significantly lower in statin and Monascus purpureus Went rice groups compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Monascus purpureus Went rice is safe, effective cholesterol lowering agent for nephrotic dyslipidemia both in adults and children.
Gheith
Osama
O
Nephrology Unit, Urology and Nephrology Center, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Ogheith@yahoo.com
Sheashaa
Hussein
H
Abdelsalam
Mohamed
M
Shoeir
Zaki
Z
Sobh
Mohamed
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D032741:Monascus; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D007211:Indoles; D000077340:Fluvastatin