title: Beneficial Effects of Red Yeast Rice on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity, Hyperlipidemia, and Fatty Liver in Mice.
abstract: Obesity is a common cause of hyperlipidemia, which is a major coronary risk factor. Previous studies have shown red yeast rice (RYR) effectiveness in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RYR on obesity and hyperlipidemia. Mice were randomly separated into five groups: the control group with a normal diet, the high-fat diet (HFD) group fed a HFD without any treatment, and HFD-fed groups supplemented with RYR (1 g/kg/day for 8 weeks, 1 g/kg/day for 12 weeks, and 2.5 g/kg/day for 8 weeks). Body weight was recorded twice and food intake thrice weekly. Liver and fat pads were surgically removed and weighed. The levels of lipid parameters, liver enzymes, and leptin levels were measured. The HFD feeding resulted in obesity, which was associated with increases in body weight, liver weight, fat pad weight, liver enzymes, and plasma leptin levels with the development of hyperlipidemia. RYR prevented weight gain and fat pad weight in mice fed a HFD. RYR alleviated blood lipid parameters, liver enzymes, and leptin levels, and improved atherogenic index. These findings suggest that RYR has therapeutic potential in treating obesity and hyperlipidemia.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Kangwon National University , Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Jeung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yunsung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eon Sub
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Myung
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong Kuk
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: 5 Department of Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University , Chuncheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University , Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009929:Organ Size
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; C117343:red yeast rice; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
keywords: high-fat diet; hyperlipidemia; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; obesity; red yeast rice