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 .
The artichoke leaf extract and virgin olive oil appear to be particularly interesting , while bergamot extract needs further research and the effect of red yeast rice seems to be limited to patients with previous myocardial infa rct ion .
Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects
Background .
High HDL-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) values are negatively correlated with cardiovascular diseases .
This review analyses the effect of the supplementation with various Mediterranean diet products ( artichoke , bergamot , and olive oil ) and Asian diet products ( red yeast rice ) on the  HDL-C value in dyslipidemic subjects .
Tolerability of red yeast rice (2,400 mg twice daily) versus pravastatin (20 mg twice daily) in patients with previous statin intolerance.
Currently , no consensus has been reached regarding the management of hyperlipidemia in patients who develop statin-associated myalgia ( SAM ) . Many statin-intolerant patients use alternative lipid-lowering therapies , including red yeast rice . The present trial evaluated the tolerability of red yeast rice versus pravastatin in patients unable to tolerate other statins because of myalgia . The study was conducted in a community-based setting in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . A total of 43 adults with dyslipidemia and a history of statin discontinuation because of myalgia were r and omly assigned to red yeast rice 2,400 mg twice daily or pravastatin 20 mg twice daily for 12 weeks . All subjects were concomitantly enrolled in a 12-week therapeutic lifestyle change program . The primary outcomes included the incidence of treatment discontinuation because of myalgia and a daily pain severity score . The secondary outcomes were muscle strength and plasma lipids . The incidence of withdrawal from medication owing to myalgia was 5 % ( 1 of 21 ) in the red yeast rice group and 9 % ( 2 of 22 ) in the pravastatin group ( p = 0.99 ) . The mean pain severity did not differ significantly between the 2 groups . No difference was found in muscle strength between the 2 groups at week 4 ( p = 0.61 ) , week 8 ( p = 0.81 ) , or week 12 ( p = 0.82 ) . The low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased 30 % in the red yeast rice group and 27 % in the pravastatin group . In conclusion , red yeast rice was tolerated as well as pravastatin and achieved a comparable reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in a population previously intolerant to statins
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 .
The artichoke leaf extract and virgin olive oil appear to be particularly interesting , while bergamot extract needs further research and the effect of red yeast rice seems to be limited to patients with previous myocardial infa rct ion .
Various MediterrAsian diet products or natural extracts may represent a potential intervention treatment to raise HDL-C in dyslipidemic subjects
Background .
High HDL-cholesterol ( HDL-C ) values are negatively correlated with cardiovascular diseases .
This review analyses the effect of the supplementation with various Mediterranean diet products ( artichoke , bergamot , and olive oil ) and Asian diet products ( red yeast rice ) on the  HDL-C value in dyslipidemic subjects .