“ RYR plus conventional therapy ” exhibited significant lowering effects on serum total cholesterol ( TC ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , and CRP but exhibited no significant effect on systolic BP , diastolic BP , triglycerides ( TG ) , and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) compared with “ placebo plus conventional therapy . ” “
RYR plus conventional therapy ” showed significant lowering effects on systolic BP , TC , LDL-C , and CRP but no effect on diastolic BP , TG , and HDL-C compared with “ placebo plus conventional therapy . ”
No significant difference in BP and lipid profile between “ RYR plus conventional therapy ” and “ statins plus conventional therapy ” was observed .
“ RYR plus statins ” appeared to be more effective in lowering BP , TC , TG , and LDL-C but without a significant difference in HDL-C compared to statins .
No serious adverse events were reported .
The results of this meta- analysis suggested some supportive but limited evidence regarding RYR for hypertension .
ABSTRACT Interest is increasing regarding the potential health effects of red yeast rice ( RYR ) consumption , which is described as a “ natural statin ” in China .
This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of RYR on blood pressure ( BP ) , lipid profile , and C-reactive protein ( CRP ) in treating  hypertension .
Xuezhikang decreases serum lipoprotein(a) and C-reactive protein concentrations in patients with coronary heart disease.
BACKGROUND Increased serum lipoprotein(a ) [ Lp(a ) ] and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hsCRP ) concentrations are independent risk factors for coronary heart disease ( CHD ) . Xuezhikang , an extract of cholestin , effectively lowers fasting cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations . We studied whether xuezhikang lowered Lp(a ) and hsCRP concentrations . METHODS We r and omly divided 60 CHD patients into two groups to receive xuezhikang ( 1200 mg daily ) or placebo for 6 weeks . The fasting hsCRP concentration and the postpr and ial changes of serum lipid concentrations at 2 , 4 , and 6 h after a high-fat meal ( 800 calories ; 50 g of fat ) were measured before and after the 6-week protocol . RESULTS The two groups had similar baseline fasting lipid and hsCRP concentrations . The postpr and ial triglyceride and Lp(a ) concentrations were significantly increased ( P < 0.05 ) . After 6 weeks , the fasting and postpr and ial lipid concentrations decreased significantly in the xuezhikang group , accompanied by a significant reduction in fasting hsCRP concentration ( P < 0.001 ) . The placebo group had no significant change in lipid concentrations , whereas the fasting serum hsCRP concentration was reduced significantly ( P < 0.05 ) . The reduction in hsCRP was closely related to the changes in fasting Lp(a ) concentration ( r = 0.402 ; P < 0.05 ) and triglyceride area under the curve ( r = 0.441 ; P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSIONS Xuezhikang effectively decreased fasting Lp(a ) and postpr and ial triglyceride concentrations , which were associated with reductions of fasting hsCRP concentrations in CHD patients
“ RYR plus conventional therapy ” exhibited significant lowering effects on serum total cholesterol ( TC ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) , and CRP but exhibited no significant effect on systolic BP , diastolic BP , triglycerides ( TG ) , and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ) compared with “ placebo plus conventional therapy . ” “
RYR plus conventional therapy ” showed significant lowering effects on systolic BP , TC , LDL-C , and CRP but no effect on diastolic BP , TG , and HDL-C compared with “ placebo plus conventional therapy . ”
No significant difference in BP and lipid profile between “ RYR plus conventional therapy ” and “ statins plus conventional therapy ” was observed .
“ RYR plus statins ” appeared to be more effective in lowering BP , TC , TG , and LDL-C but without a significant difference in HDL-C compared to statins .
No serious adverse events were reported .
The results of this meta- analysis suggested some supportive but limited evidence regarding RYR for hypertension .
ABSTRACT Interest is increasing regarding the potential health effects of red yeast rice ( RYR ) consumption , which is described as a “ natural statin ” in China .
This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of RYR on blood pressure ( BP ) , lipid profile , and C-reactive protein ( CRP ) in treating  hypertension .