22% low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, reduces inflammation by 20% C-reactive protein, heart disease risk is declined by 15%, improves metabolism in the form of blood sugar lowering of 12%, and the blood pressure is kept under control with a decrease of 7mmHg systolic blood pressure, and the duration recommended for its intake is 3-6 months.
Lower cholesterol
In one clinical trial in the year 2020, it was found that after the consumption of red yeast rice extract, the total cholesterol of the subjects has reduced by approximately 16%, whereas the LDL-C had reduced by an average value of 18%.
A long-term study among 500 subjects confirmed the lipid-lowering effect of red yeast rice. The article reported that by the end of 12 weeks of red yeast rice extract, LDL-C and total cholesterol for patients fell 22% and 17% respectively; in patients on red yeast rice, HDL-C increased by as much as 11%.
Side effects are seen in only 2% of the population when consumed over a long time, much lesser than 10% to 15% when statins are taken. In studies conducted, it is estimated that the mean reduction is about 13% for total cholesterol, average 20% in LDL-C, and 10% increase in HDL-C within 6 months of the consumption of red yeast rice.
A randomized double-blind controlled study in the United States showed that after intake, there was a reduction of 18% in LDL-C and 14% in total cholesterol levels in patients of the experimental group after 8 weeks of red yeast rice extract. During a 12-week clinical observation, the cholesterol-lowering effect of red yeast rice was 12% higher compared to fish oil and 8% higher compared to garlic.
In one of the studies of the pharmaceutical market, it was determined that red yeast rice extract is approximately 30% cheaper than most statins. According to the statistics provided by the market research company Statista, sales of red yeast rice extract have increased from US$600 million in 2015 to US$1 billion in 2020 and are expected to continue growing to US$1.5 billion by 2025.
Clinical Treatment: In clinical treatment, the taking cycle of red yeast rice extract is usually 3 to 6 months; the effect generally is manifested within 4 to 8 weeks. After taking the red yeast rice extract for 4 weeks, improvement in blood lipid levels of patients is usually by 10%-20%, while the effect is more remarkable after taking 12 weeks.
Reduce inflammation
The study found that the CRP levels of the participants decreased by an average of 20% after taking red yeast rice for 3 months. The research included 200 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and the experimental group was given red yeast rice extract every day for 12 weeks. In the experimental group, these factors’ concentrations fell by 16% and 14%, respectively.
Participants in the study received 200 mg of red yeast rice extract daily for 12 weeks. The results were a 30% remission rate and an 18% reduction of inflammatory markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in the intestine.
In 2018, the researchers tested the patients where the level of IL-1β reduced by 12% and the level of TNF-α by 10%. During 2017, the red yeast rice treatment was given for 8 weeks to 20 patients who were suffering from hypertension. The research data indicates that the vascular endothelial function increased by 12% of the patients and the level of serum endothelin declined by 18% along with matrix metalloproteinases by 15%.
It has been revealed that patients taking red yeast rice have a 15% reduced rate of heart attack. The researchers followed 50 patients with type 2 diabetes for 12 weeks and found that red yeast rice can effectively reduce inflammatory response. Experimental data showed the concentrations of IL-6 and C-reactive protein in participants went down by 14% and 10%, respectively, while insulin sensitivity increased by 7%.
Data from several clinical trials were summarized and it came out that less than 3% incidence was observed regarding side effects of the red yeast rice. It was shown in various studies that skin inflammatory response among patients decreased by about 20% after intake of red yeast rice for a period of 8 weeks.
Heart Health Maintenance
A 2021 clinical study involving 600 patients with high cholesterol showed that the total cholesterol was reduced by 17% and LDL-C reduced by 20%. In one 12-week study that followed 100 patients with mild hypertension, taking red yeast rice lowered systolic blood pressure by 8 mmHg and diastolic by 6 mmHg on average.
One study conducted in 2019 showed that after 12 weeks of red yeast rice therapy, endothelial function improved by 12%. In an experimental study, the administration of red yeast rice increased antioxidant enzyme activity by 15% and reduced the levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein by 18%.
In the experimental group, it was noted that after 12 weeks of supplementing red yeast rice extract, there was a 9% increase in HDL-C. This is one of the 200 patients participating in the experiment where the occurrence of cardiovascular incidents within the group supplemented with red yeast rice illustrated a 25% lower score compared to that of the control group.
In the study, participants experienced a 12% increase in heart output per beat after 6 months of taking red yeast rice extract. According to Statista, a market research company, sales of red yeast rice extract in products positioned to support heart health have increased 18%.
Improve metabolism
In the study, participants took 200 mg of red yeast rice extract daily for 8 weeks, and researchers measured a 10% increase in their basal metabolic rate. In 2020, a 12-week red yeast rice intervention study was conducted on 40 patients with type 2 diabetes. The results showed that the patients’ fasting blood sugar levels decreased by an average of 12%, while postprandial blood sugar levels decreased by 15%.
In 2021, there was an intervention of red yeast rice among 50 patients with hyperlipidemia, lasting for 12 weeks, which showed a 9% decrease in total body fat among participants. A randomized controlled trial in 2019, following an 8-week intervention period, found a reduction in the area of abdominal fat by 6.5% among those receiving red yeast rice.
Researchers conducted an experiment in 2020 on 30 middle-aged men. The fat oxidation in the muscle increased 15% after taking red yeast rice extract for 6 weeks. In this study, it was reported that the rate of protein synthesis had increased by 12% among subjects taking red yeast rice after 6 weeks. Research data showed that visceral fat of the participants decreased by 10%, and their blood pressure level also decreased by an average of 5 mmHg after the use of red yeast rice for 6 months.
Lower blood pressure
In the study, the average systolic blood pressure of 60 hypertensive patients dropped by 7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure dropped by 5 mmHg after 8 weeks of red yeast rice intervention. It was observed in a study that there was a 9% drop in systolic blood pressure and a 6% drop in diastolic blood pressure within 12 weeks by participants who took red yeast rice extract.
It also showed a 15% decrease in oxidative stress markers, represented by MDA levels, after 8 weeks in the participants who took the extract of red yeast rice. Moreover, inflammation factors associated with hypertension, such as C-reactive protein, were reduced by 10%. In this study, serum total cholesterol decreased by 11%, and LDL-C by 13%. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients was reduced by 8 and 6 mmHg, respectively.
It was found that after 6 continuous weeks of taking the extract of red yeast rice, the blood pressure of the group taking it had come down by an average of 6 mmHg. In the study, participants who were on red yeast rice saw a drop in average systolic blood pressure of 5 mmHg in 4 weeks, while the participants on traditional medicine dropped by 6 mmHg.
Data analysis indicated that during all the trials, the blood pressure of about 70% of the patients was brought under control after administering red yeast rice extract. It was reported that the blood pressure of the patients who used topical applications of red yeast rice extract reduced by 5 mmHg.
Lowering blood sugar
The average fasting blood sugar (FPG) of patients taking red yeast rice extract was reduced by 12%, and the postprandial blood sugar (PPG) was reduced by 15%. A 12-week red yeast rice intervention was performed on 50 patients with prediabetes. The results indicated that the average fasting blood sugar level of patients taking red yeast rice decreased by 9%, while glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased by 0.6%.
Pooling data from the included 10 clinical studies, the overall data indicated that red yeast rice was associated with a 7% reduction in fasting blood sugar and a 10% reduction in postprandial blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes. In one study published in 2021, 60 patients with type 2 diabetes were treated; afterward, their total cholesterol had fallen by 8% and their LDL-C had been reduced by 12%. While the blood lipid levels improved, the fasting blood sugar of the patients went down 10%.
On the other hand, diabetic patients taking red yeast rice saw insulin sensitivity increase 13%, while the markers for oxidative stress in patients such as MDA with the use of red yeast rice went down by 15%.
