Study conducted by: K. Bonovich, Bel Air, MD; H Colfer, Petokey, MI; M. Davidson, Chicago. IL; C. Dujovne; D Fried, Providence, RI; M. Greenspan, Sellerville, PA; S. King, Spokane, WA; R. Karlberg, Beverly Hills, CA; C. LaForce, Raleigh, NC; M. Litt, Jacksonville Beach, FL; JR McGhee, Ocala. FL; J. Rippe, Shrewsbury, MA.

A traditional Chinese food and medicine, Red Yeast Rice, was evaluated in a multicenter, self-controlled, open-label study in 187 subjects (116 men, 71 women) with midly to moderate elevated total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-c). Elligible subjects were placed on the AHA Step 1 Diet throughout the study. After 4-weeks on this diet, Red Yeast Rice (2.4 g/day) was given for 8 weeks. Lipid profiles were determined at week 4 (4 weeks of diet), and at Week 8 and 12 (4 and 8 weeks of Red Yeast Rice treatment), and at Week 14 (2 weeks after discontinuing Red Yeast Rice).
The diet alone for 1 month had no effect on serum cholesterol. The 8-week treatment with Red Yeast Rice reduced; TC by 16.4%, LDL-c by 21.0%, triglycerides (TG) by 24.5%, and ratio of total: HDL cholesterol by 17.7%, and increased HDL cholesterol (HDL-c) by 14.6%. Discontinuation of Red Yeast Rice following the treatment led to a relatively rapid return of serum lipids to pre-study levels at Week 14. Product-related adverse reactions were mild and moderate in severity.
Thirty four patients (18%) were judged to have adverse reactions possibly or probably related to Red Yeast Rice treatment. The reported adverse events were headache, abdominal bloating, and gas. This multi-center clinical trial at 12 U.S. sites confirmed that treatment with a traditional Chinese food, Red Yeast Rice, was well tolerated and was effective in reducing TC, LD-c, TG and ratio of TC:HDL-c, and in increasing HDL-c in patients with hyperlipidemia.

About the director of the study: Dr. James Rippe, M.D., is an internationally renowned cardiologist an a leading authority on health, fitness and healthy weight loss.
A graduate of Harvard Medical School, he is currently director of the Center for Clinical and Lifestyle Research and an associate professor of cardiology at Tufts University School of Medicine. He is also the founder and director of the Rippe Health Assessment at Celebration Health in Orlando, Florida.
The author of 20 books, Dr. Rippe has developed corporate fitness programs for leading companies such as Allstate Life Insurance and The Shimizu Corporation. Formerly the medical editor for the Television Food Network (TVFN), he has been featured on programs and in print media including: The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.