1
|
Buzzelli L, Segreti A, Di Gioia D, Lemme E, Squeo MR, Nenna A, Di Gioia G. Alternative lipid lowering strategies: State-of-the-art review of red yeast rice. Fitoterapia 2024; 172:105719. [PMID: 37931717 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Red yeast rice (RYR) is an entirely natural product that originates from the fermentation of white rice (Oryza sativa) with a yeast, mainly Monascus Purpureus, and has been part of traditional Chinese medicine and diet since ancient times. It has generated great interest in recent years in the context of cardiovascular (CV) prevention due to its ability to inhibit endogenous cholesterol production, helping to achieve and maintain optimal plasma lipid concentrations. This review aims to make an extensive 360-degree assessment and summary of the whole currently available scientific evidence about RYR, starting with its biochemical composition, passing through a historical reconstruction of all the studies that have evaluated its efficacy and safety in cholesterol-lowering action, with a focus on CV outcomes, and ultimately addressing its other relevant clinical effects. We also discuss its possible therapeutic role, alone or in combination with other nutraceuticals, in different clinical scenarios, taking into account the positions of major scientific documents on the issue, and describe the articulate legal controversies that have characterized the regulation of its use up to the present day. RYR preparations have been proven safe and effective in improving lipid profile, with a potential role in reducing cardiovascular risk. They can be considered as additional supportive agents in the armamentarium of lipid-modifying therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Buzzelli
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Segreti
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy; Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro De Bosis, 15, 00135 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Di Gioia
- Farmacia del Corso, Via Federico II, 50, 71036 Lucera, Foggia, Italy
| | - Erika Lemme
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro De Bosis, 15, 00135 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Squeo
- Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro De Bosis, 15, 00135 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Nenna
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Gioia
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo, 200, 00128 Rome, Italy; Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro De Bosis, 15, 00135 Rome, Italy; Institute of Sport Medicine and Science, National Italian Olympic Committee, Largo Piero Gabrielli, 1, 00197 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lai HC, Lin HJ, Shih YH, Chou JW, Lin KW, Jeng LB, Huang ST. LipoCol Forte capsules reduce the risk of liver cancer: A propensity score-matched, nationwide, population-based cohort study. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:828-842. [PMID: 37275448 PMCID: PMC10237025 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i5.828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver cancer is among the top five most common cancers globally. Lipid-lowering drugs such as statins can lower the risk of liver cancer, but may also cause liver damage. LipoCol Forte capsules (LFC), a red yeast rice product, have demonstrated significant antihypercholesterolemic effects and a good safety profile in clinical studies.
AIM To evaluate whether LFC lowers the risk of liver cancer in adults in this propensity score-matched, nationwide, population-based cohort study.
METHODS We used data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, which includes electronic medical records for up to 99.99% of Taiwan’s population. LFC users and LFC non-users were matched 1:1 by propensity scores between January 2010 and December 2017. All had follow-up data for at least 1 year. Statistical analyses compared demographic distributions including sex, age, comorbidities, and prescribed medications. Cox regression analyses estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) after adjusting for potential confounders.
RESULTS We enrolled 33231 LFC users and 33231 non-LFC users (controls). No significant differences between the study cohorts were identified regarding comorbidities and medications [standardized mean difference (SMD) < 0.05]. At follow-up, the overall incidence of liver cancer was significantly lower in the LFC cohort compared with controls [aHR 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86-0.95; P < 0.001]. The risk of liver cancer was significantly reduced in both females (aHR 0.87; 95%CI: 0.8-0.94; P < 0.001) and males (aHR 0.93; 95%CI: 0.87-0.98; P < 0.01) in the LFC cohort compared with their counterparts in the non-LFC cohort. The antitumor protective effects applied to patients with comorbidities (including hypertension, ischemic stroke, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hepatitis B infection and hepatitis C infection). Those using LFC for more than 84 drug days had a 0.64-fold lower risk of liver cancer compared with controls (P < 0.001). Compared with controls, the risk of developing liver cancer in the LFC cohort progressively decreased over time; the lowest incidence of liver cancer occurred in LFC users followed-up for more than 6 years (27.44 vs 31.49 per 1,000 person-years; aHR 0.75; 95%CI: 0.68-0.82; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION This retrospective cohort study indicates that LFC has a significantly protective effect on lowering the risk of liver cancer, in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Chun Lai
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Jen Lin
- School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hsiu Shih
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Wei Chou
- Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Wen Lin
- Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Long-Bin Jeng
- Organ Transplantation Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Teng Huang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Cancer Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan 709204, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hatfield J, Saad S, Housewright C. Dietary supplements and bleeding. Proc AMIA Symp 2022; 35:802-807. [DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2022.2121575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jess Hatfield
- Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, Texas
| | - Saadeddine Saad
- Department of Dermatology, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Temple, Temple, Texas
| | - Chad Housewright
- Department of Dermatology, Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Temple, Temple, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Decreased Risk of Stroke in People Using Red Yeast Rice Prescriptions (LipoCol Forte®): a Total Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:8160425. [PMID: 35502179 PMCID: PMC9056220 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8160425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The influence of red yeast rice (RYR) on the risk of incident stroke remains underexplored. We aimed to compare the risk of stroke between people with and without use of RYR prescriptions. We used research data from the National Health Insurance Program in Taiwan and identified 34,723 adults (aged ≥20 years) who first received the RYR prescription from 2010 to 2014. To select the appropriate control group, we used frequency matching by age and sex (case-control ratio = 1 : 1) and identified a non-RYR cohort that included 34,723 adults who first received lovastatin. Events of an incident stroke that occurred during the follow-up period of 2010–2017 were identified from medical claims. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of stroke risk associated with RYR prescription were calculated in the multiple Cox proportional hazard model. Compared with the non-RYR cohort, patients who received RYR prescriptions had a decreased risk of stroke (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.59–0.71), including hemorrhagic stroke (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.44–0.83), ischemic stroke (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.43–0.57), and other types of strokes (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.42–0.67). The association between RYR prescription and stroke risk was significant in both sexes and in people aged more than 40 years, as well as in those individuals with various medical conditions. The frequency of RYR prescription (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.50–0.64) was associated with a decreased risk of stroke with a dose-response relationship (p for trend<0.0001). This study showed a potentially positive effect of RYR on the risk of stroke. However, compliance with medication use should be cautioned. The findings of this study require future studies to validate the beneficial effects of RYR prescription on stroke risk.
Collapse
|
5
|
Sung LC, Chang CC, Lin CS, Yeh CC, Cherng YG, Chen TL, Liao CC. Risk of acute atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20907. [PMID: 34686769 PMCID: PMC8536656 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99915-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The association between pancreatitis and acute myocardial infarction or stroke remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term risk of acute atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in people with acute and chronic pancreatitis. Using research database of Taiwan's National Health Insurance, we identified 2678 patients aged ≥ 20 years with newly diagnosed pancreatitis in 2000–2008. A cohort of 10,825 adults without pancreatitis was selected for comparison, with matching by age and sex. Both cohorts were followed from 2000 to the end of 2013, and incident acute ASCVD was identified during the follow-up period. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of acute ASCVD associated with pancreatitis were calculated. Compared with the comparison cohort, the adjusted HR of acute ASCVD were 1.76 (95% CI 1.47–2.12) and 3.42 (95% CI 1.69–6.94) for people with acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis, respectively. A history of alcohol-related illness (HR 9.49, 95% CI 3.78–23.8), liver cirrhosis (HR 7.31, 95% CI 1.81–29.5), and diabetes (HR 6.89, 95% CI 2.18–21.8) may worsen the risk of acute ASCVD in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Compared with people had no pancreatitis, patients with acute pancreatitis who had alcohol-related illness (HR 4.66, 95% CI 3.24–6.70), liver cirrhosis (HR 4.44, 95% CI 3.05–6.47), and diabetes (HR 2.61, 95% CI 2.03–3.36) were at increased risk of acute ASCVD. However, the cumulative use of metformin was associated with a reduced risk of acute ASCVD in the acute pancreatitis cohort (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.17–0.50). Compared with the control group, patients with acute or chronic pancreatitis were more likely to have an increased risk of acute ASCVD, while the use of metformin reduced the risk of acute ASCVD. Our findings warrant a survey and education on acute ASCVD for patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Chin Sung
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Taipei Heart Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuen-Chau Chang
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Xing Street, Taipei, Taiwan.,Anesthesiology and Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Shun Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Xing Street, Taipei, Taiwan.,Anesthesiology and Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chieh Yeh
- Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yih-Giun Cherng
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Anesthesiology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Liang Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Anesthesiology and Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Anesthesiology, Wang Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chang Liao
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Xing Street, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Anesthesiology and Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Research Center of Big Data and Meta-Analysis, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. .,School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cicero AFG, Fogacci F, Zambon A. Red Yeast Rice for Hypercholesterolemia: JACC Focus Seminar. J Am Coll Cardiol 2021; 77:620-628. [PMID: 33538260 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The extracts of red yeast rice (RYR) are currently the most effective cholesterol-lowering nutraceuticals. This activity is mainly due to monacolin K, a weak reversible inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, whose daily consumption causes a reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol plasma levels up to 15% to 25% within 6 to 8 weeks. The decrease in LDL-cholesterol is accompanied by a proportional decrease in total and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, plasma apolipoprotein B, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Some trials suggest that RYR use is associated with improvement in endothelial function and arterial stiffness, whereas a long-term study supports its role in the prevention of cardiovascular events. Despite the statin-like mechanism of action, the risk related to 3 to 10 mg monacolin K taken per day is minimal (mild myalgia in previously severely statin-intolerant subjects). RYR could represent a therapeutic tool to support lifestyle improvement in managing mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia in low-risk patients, including those who cannot be treated with statins or other LDL-cholesterol-lowering therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arrigo F G Cicero
- Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Federica Fogacci
- Department of Medicine and Surgery Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Zambon
- Department of Medicine-DIMED, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen TL, Lin CS, Lin JA, Yeh CC, Sung LC, Chang YC, Shih CC, Liao CC. Evaluating Risk of Incident Diabetes Between Patients Who Used Lovastatin and Red Yeast Rice Prescriptions (LipoCol Forte): A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on a Real-World Database. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes 2020; 13:89-98. [PMID: 32021355 PMCID: PMC6956995 DOI: 10.2147/dmso.s223833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the risk of incident diabetes between people who used lovastatin and red yeast rice (RYR) prescriptions. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed to analyze the real-world database of Taiwan's National Health Insurance. We identified the RYR cohort, which included 34,504 persons age 20 years or older who began their use of a RYR prescription in 2010-2014. A comparison cohort of 34,504 adults beginning the use of lovastatin was selected from the same dataset, which was matched by age and sex. Both cohorts had no diabetes before the use of the medications. Events of incident diabetes in 2000-2015 were ascertained from medical claims. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident diabetes associated with the use of RYR prescriptions were calculated. RESULTS The incidences of diabetes for the RYR cohort and the lovastatin cohort were 1.01 and 2.59 per 100 person-years, respectively (P < 0.0001). Compared with the lovastatin cohort, the adjusted HR of incident diabetes was 0.46 (95% CI 0.43-0.50) for people who used RYR prescriptions. The association between reduced incident diabetes and use of RYR prescriptions was significant in various subgroups. There was a dose-response relationship between RYR prescriptions and the reduced risk of incident diabetes. CONCLUSION We raised the possibility that people who used RYR prescriptions may have a lower risk of incident diabetes compared with the lovastatin cohort.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ta-Liang Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Shun Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Anesthesiology and Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jui-An Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chieh Yeh
- Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Li-Chin Sung
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Cheng Chang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chuan Shih
- School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Clinical Drug Development of Herbal Medicine, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Chang Liao
- Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Anesthesiology and Health Policy Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center of Big Data and Meta-Analysis, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Correspondence: Chien-Chang Liao Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wuxing St., Taipei11031, TaiwanTel +886-2-2737-2181, ext. 8310Fax +886-2-2736-7344 Email
| |
Collapse
|