Red Yeast Rice Research
41 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 7.5/10
Impact of Berberine or Berberine Combination Products on Lipoprotein, Triglyceride and Biological Safety Marker Concentrations in Patients with Hyperlipidemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hernandez AV et al. • Journal of dietary supplements (2024)
Berberine, alone or with other nutraceuticals, can provide a modest positive impact on lipid concentrations.
- Products with berberine alone had less robust effects on TC (MD -12.08 mg/dL [95%CI: -21.79 to -2.37]), LDL (MD -9.26 mg/dL [95%CI: -20.31 to 1.78]), and HDL (MD 1.38 mg/dL [95%CI: -1.27 to 4.03]) but TG effects were similar (MD -17.40 mg/dL [95%CI: -32.57 to -2.23]).
- Berberine, alone or with other nutraceuticals, can provide a modest positive impact on lipid concentrations.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
A network meta-analysis on the comparative effect of nutraceuticals on lipid profile in adults
Osadnik T et al. • Pharmacological research (2022)
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- Evidence for bergamot effect was based on relatively small study group and may require further investigations.
- Policosanols have no effect on the lipid profile.Copyright © 2022 The Authors.
- Published by Elsevier Ltd..
Efficacy and Safety of Armolipid Plus(®): An Updated PRISMA Compliant Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials
Cicero AFG et al. • Nutrients (2021)
These changes are consistent with improved cardiometabolic health.
- Armolipid Plus® was well tolerated.
- This meta-analysis demonstrates that dietary supplementation with Armolipid Plus® is associated with clinically meaningful improvements in serum lipids, glucose, and hs-CRP.
- These changes are consistent with improved cardiometabolic health.
Monacolin K supplementation in patients with hypercholesterolemia: A systematic review of clinical trials
Liasi E et al. • Semergen (2024)
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- Low doses of monacolin K equal to 3mg/day exert potential cholesterol-lowering effects although the number of relative studies is limited.
- Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.
- All rights reserved.
The effects of a nutraceutical combination on plasma lipids and glucose: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Pirro M et al. • Pharmacological research (2016)
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- Inverse variance-weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for net changes in lipid and glucose levels using a random-effects model.
- Overall, WMDs were significant for the impact of NComb supplementation on plasma levels of total cholesterol (-26.15mg/dL, p<0.001), LDL-cholesterol (-23.85mg/dL, p<0.001), HDL-cholesterol (2.53mg/dL, p<0.001), triglycerides (-13.83mg/dL, p<0.001) and glucose (-2.59mg/dL, p=0.010).
- NComb-induced amelioration of lipid profile was not affected by duration of supplementation nor by baseline lipid levels; conversely, a greater glucose-lowering effect of NComb was found with higher baseline glucose levels and longer durations of supplementation.
Original Research: The Effects of Red Yeast Rice Supplementation on Cholesterol Levels in Adults
Peng D et al. • The American journal of nursing (2017)
Although RYR appears to be a safe and effective lipid-lowering agent, there is insufficient evidence to support the recommendation of RYR supplementation to patients.
- Significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol levels with RYR supplementation were observed in all trials.
- Although RYR appears to be a safe and effective lipid-lowering agent, there is insufficient evidence to support the recommendation of RYR supplementation to patients.
- Further research is needed, including long-term studies, studies that include participants with comorbidities and complex medical histories, and studies that take into account the variability of formulation and dosage of RYR in the marketplace.
The effects of red yeast rice dietary supplement on blood pressure, lipid profile, and C-reactive protein in hypertension: A systematic review
Xiong X et al. • Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2017)
Further rigorously designed trials are warranted before RYR could be recommended to hypertensive patients.
- No serious adverse events were reported.
- The results of this meta-analysis suggested some supportive but limited evidence regarding RYR for hypertension.
- Further rigorously designed trials are warranted before RYR could be recommended to hypertensive patients.
Red yeast rice for hyperlipidemia in statin-intolerant patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Fogacci F et al. • American Journal of Cardiology (2019)
Red yeast rice effectively lowered LDL-C in statin-intolerant patients with significantly better tolerability than statins.
- LDL-C was reduced by 22-30% in statin-intolerant patients
- Muscle-related adverse events were significantly lower than with statin therapy
- Red yeast rice containing monacolin K at 3-10 mg/day was most effective
A meta-analysis of red yeast rice: an effective and relatively safe alternative approach for dyslipidemia
Li Y et al. • PloS one (2014)
The meta-analysis suggests that red yeast rice is an effective and relatively safe approach for dyslipidemia.
- The meta-analysis suggests that red yeast rice is an effective and relatively safe approach for dyslipidemia.
- However, further long-term, rigorously designed randomized controlled trials are still warranted before red yeast rice could be recommended to patients with dyslipidemia, especially as an alternative to statins.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Associations between the use of red yeast rice preparations and adverse health outcomes: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
Ma ZY et al. • Journal of integrative medicine (2024)
The evidence examined in this study suggests that RYR preparations are safe; however, the credibility of the evidence was not high.
- Based on A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews version 2, 3 (20%) and 12 (80%) of these meta-analyses had low and critically low confidence, respectively.
- The other 46 (75.4%) associations showed no significant difference between the use of RYR preparations and control treatments.
- Regarding the credibility of the evidence, 21 (34.4%), 34 (55.7%) and 6 (9.8%) associations showed moderate, low and very low credibility, respectively.
Safety and Efficacy of the Consumption of the Nutraceutical "Red Yeast Rice Extract" for the Reduction of Hypercholesterolemia in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Trogkanis E et al. • Nutrients (2024)
Further research on specific subpopulations and outcomes could establish a consensus on determining the clinical benefits and potential risks, if any, of this nutraceutical.
- The consumption of RYR extract by people with hypercholesterolemia was associated with statistically significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-C, whereas it was not associated with an increase in life-threatening side effects.
- As regards the safety, RYR extract was considered a safe choice with neither threatening nor frequent side effects.
- Further research on specific subpopulations and outcomes could establish a consensus on determining the clinical benefits and potential risks, if any, of this nutraceutical.
Impact of red yeast rice supplementation on lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials
Rahmani P et al. • Expert review of clinical pharmacology (2023)
In conclusion, this comprehensive article and meta-analysis showed that RYR significantly decreases TC, TG, and LDL-C as well as increases HDL-C.
- In conclusion, this comprehensive article and meta-analysis showed that RYR significantly decreases TC, TG, and LDL-C as well as increases HDL-C.
- Published in Expert review of clinical pharmacology (2023)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Comparing the effectiveness of Chinese patent medicines containing red yeast rice on hyperlipidaemia: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Xu G et al. • Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism (2022)
Xuezhikang was found to have the highest probability of being the most effective formulation for reducing total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, while Zhibituo had the highest probability of being the most effective for controlling triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
- In terms of reduced total cholesterol levels, Xuezhikang (SUCRA: 84.5%) had the highest probability of being the most effective formulation, with Simvastatin (66.4%) and Zhibitai (65.4%) ranked second and third, respectively.
- Xuezhikang also had the highest probability of reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels to the greatest extent (SUCRA: 82.6%) with Simvastatin (SUCRA: 74.9%) and Zhibituo (SUCRA: 52.8%) being the second and third choices, respectively.
- For reduced triglyceride levels, Zhibituo (SUCRA: 80.2%) exhibited the highest probability of being the most effective, with Xuezhikang (SUCRA: 63.4%) and Simvastatin (SUCRA: 57.6%) in second and third places, respectively.
The effect of Berberine on weight loss in order to prevent obesity: A systematic review
Ilyas Z et al. • Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (2020)
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- In addition, Berberine is found to have a beneficial impact on gene regulation for the absorption of cholesterol at a daily dose of 300 mg in humans, an amelioration on glucose accumulation at 1.0 g daily dose was also observed.
- For all these reasons, this review gives an important good account of the impact of Berberine in obesity treatment and prevention.Copyright © 2020 The Author(s).
- Published by Elsevier Masson SAS..
MediterrAsian Diet Products That Could Raise HDL-Cholesterol: A Systematic Review
Rondanelli M et al. • BioMed research international (2016)
Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects.
- The results of this systematic review indicate that the dietary supplementation with red yeast rice, bergamot, artichoke, and virgin olive oil has promising effects on the increase of HDL-C serum levels.
- Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Effects of a nutraceutical combination containing berberine (BRB), policosanol, and red yeast rice (RYR), on lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic patients: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Millán J et al. • Clinica e investigacion en arteriosclerosis : publicacion oficial de la Sociedad Espanola de Arteriosclerosis (2016)
This meta-analysis confirms that the nutraceutical combination containing berberine, policosanol, and red yeast rice has shown to be an effective product for the improvement of the lipid profile.
- The effect size (relative change from baseline (%)) was -1.3 (9.9%) for total cholesterol, -1.17 (-13.7%) for LDL-c, +0.17 (+3.7%) for HDL-c and -0.24 (-7.0%) for Triglycerides.
- This meta-analysis confirms that the nutraceutical combination containing berberine, policosanol, and red yeast rice has shown to be an effective product for the improvement of the lipid profile.
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Efficacy of red yeast rice extract on myocardial infarction patients with borderline hypercholesterolemia: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Sungthong B et al. • Scientific reports (2020)
This meta-analysis indicated that RYR extract in MI patients with borderline hypercholesterolemia is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes and lipid profiles.
- RYR extract (1,200 mg/day) reduced nonfatal MI (risk ratio (RR) = 0.42, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.52), revascularization (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.71), and sudden death (RR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.94).
- Follow-up periods ranged from 4 weeks - 4.5 years and the studies were overall of high quality with low risk of bias.
- This meta-analysis indicated that RYR extract in MI patients with borderline hypercholesterolemia is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes and lipid profiles.
Systematic review of red yeast rice compared with simvastatin in dyslipidaemia
Ong YC et al. • Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics (2016)
A number of small trials show that red yeast rice and simvastatin produce similar lipid-lowering effects.
- Overall, red yeast rice and simvastatin did not show any statistically significant difference in any of the outcomes examined.
- A number of small trials show that red yeast rice and simvastatin produce similar lipid-lowering effects.
- Larger trials with increased methodological rigour and trials with clinical outcomes are necessary for more robust inferences.
Traditional Chinese lipid-lowering agent red yeast rice results in significant LDL reduction but safety is uncertain - a systematic review and meta-analysis
Gerards MC et al. • Atherosclerosis (2015)
RYR exerts a clinically and statistically significant reduction of 1.02 mmol/L LDL cholesterol.
- The incidence of liver and kidney injury was 0-5% and the risk was not different between treatment and control groups (risk difference -0.01 [-0.01; 0.0] and 0.0 [-0.01; 0.02]).
- RYR exerts a clinically and statistically significant reduction of 1.02 mmol/L LDL cholesterol.
- Only when the mild profile of adverse reactions can be affirmed in studies with adequate methodology for safety assessment, RYR might be a safe and effective treatment option for dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk reduction in statin intolerant patients.
Red yeast rice for hyperlipidemia: A meta-analysis
Liu J et al. • Chinese Medicine (2006)
RYR significantly reduced LDL and total cholesterol.
- LDL reduction of 15-25%
- Total cholesterol reduction
- Comparable to low-dose statins