title: Adverse reactions to dietary supplements containing red yeast rice: assessment of cases from the Italian surveillance system.
abstract: Red yeast rice (RYR) is contained in dietary supplements for patients with dyslipidemia. RYR supplements contain monacolin K, which is chemically identical to lovastatin, a licensed drug with a well-known risk profile. We aim to describe the safety profile of RYR by analysing spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions (ARs).
  
  
  
  Within the Italian Surveillance System of Natural Health Products, suspected ARs were collected and evaluated by a multidisciplinary group of experts to assess causality using the WHO-UMC system or the CIOMS/RUCAM score, for hepatic reactions. The public version of the WHO-Vigibase was also queried.
  
  
  
  From April 2002 to September 2015, out of 1261 total reports, 52 reports concerning 55 ARs to RYR dietary supplements were collected. ARs consisted in myalgia and/or increase in creatine phosphokinase (19), rhabdomyolysis (1), liver injury (10), gastrointestinal reactions (12), cutaneous reactions (9) and other reactions (4). Women were involved in 70% of cases. In 13 cases, the reaction required hospitalization, and 28 patients were taking other medications. Dechallenge was positive in 40 reactions (73%), rechallenge was positive in 7. Causality resulted as certain (1), probable (31, 56%), possible (18, 34%), unlikely (3) or unassessable (2). Similar distribution emerged from the WHO-Vigibase.
  
  
  
  The potential safety signals of myopathies and liver injury raise the hypothesis that the safety profile of RYR is similar to that of statins. Continuous monitoring of dietary supplements should be promoted to finally characterize their risk profile, thus supporting regulatory bodies for appropriate actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology 'Vittorio Erspamer', Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.affiliation: Poison Control Center, Niguarda Ca' Grande Hospital, Piazza Ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola Angela
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 48, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0487-7996
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raschi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Da Cas
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menniti-Ippolito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; C117343:red yeast rice
keywords: Monascus purpureus; adverse reactions; dietary supplements; monacolin; red yeast rice; statins