title: Low daily dose of 3 mg monacolin K from RYR reduces the concentration of LDL-C in a randomized, placebo-controlled intervention.
abstract: Hypercholesterolemia and elevated homocysteine concentrations are associated with cardiovascular risk. Previous studies have demonstrated a cholesterol-lowering effect of red yeast rice (RYR) supplements which contained 5 to 10 mg of monacolin K. We hypothesized that the intake of a low monacolin K dose may likewise reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and other plasma lipids. In secondary analyses, we tested the homocysteine lowering effect of folic acid, which was also included in the study preparation. Therefore, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled intervention study. One hundred forty-two nonstatin-treated participants with hypercholesterolemia (LDL-C ≥ 4.14 ≤ 5.69 mmol/L) were randomized to the supplement group with RYR or the placebo group. Participants of the supplement group consumed 3 mg monacolin K and 200 μg folic acid per day. A significant (P < .001) reduction of LDL-C (-14.8%), total cholesterol (-11.2%), and homocysteine (-12.5%) was determined in the supplement group after 12 weeks. A total of 51% of the participants treated with RYR achieved the limit of LDL-C <4.14 mmol/L advised and 26% reached the threshold level of homocysteine <10 μmol/L. No significant changes were exhibited within the placebo group. Other parameters remained unchanged and no intolerances or serious adverse events were observed. In conclusion, we demonstrated that a low dose of daily 3 mg monacolin K from RYR reduces the concentration of LDL-C; a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: heinz@nutrition.uni-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan Philipp
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Schuchardt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Hospital Nordwest, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hadji
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: hahn@nutrition.uni-hannnover.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hahn
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; C117343:red yeast rice; D006710:Homocysteine; D005492:Folic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin
keywords: Folic acid; Homocysteine; LDL-cholesterol; Monacolin K; Red yeast rice