Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients
Authors: David J. Becker
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2010)

Letters19 January 2010Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant PatientsDavid J. Becker, MD and Ram Y. Gordon, MDDavid J. Becker, MDFrom Chestnut Hill Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA 19118.Search for more papers by this author and Ram Y. Gordon, MDFrom Chestnut Hill Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA 19118.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-152-2-201001190-00026 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Kolpakchi and colleagues summarize the regulatory history of red yeast rice, but they do not focus on our major point. Regardless of their legal status, many red yeast rice products are commercially available in this country and are currently consumed by patients. Therefore, well-designed trials evaluating red yeast rice and other herbal supplements are not “immaterial”—they are needed to improve knowledge about the efficacy and safety of these products that are already in use.We agree with Dr. Le Couteur that the pharmacokinetics of red yeast rice are not well studied. The patients in our trial took ...References1. Qato DM, Alexander GC, Conti RM, Johnson M, Schumm P, Lindau ST. Use of prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements among older adults in the United States. JAMA. 2008;300:2867-78. [PMID: 19109115] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Barnes PM, Powell-Griner E, McFann K, Nahin RL. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2004. Google Scholar3. Becker DJ, Gordon RY, Morris PB, Yorko J, Gordon YJ, Li M, et al. Simvastatin vs therapeutic lifestyle changes and supplements: randomized primary prevention trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83:758-64. [PMID: 18613992] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Huang CF, Li TC, Lin CC, Liu CS, Shih HC, Lai MM. Efficacy of Monascus purpureus Went rice on lowering lipid ratios in hypercholesterolemic patients. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2007;14:438-40. [PMID: 17568245] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Lu Z, Kou W, Du B, Wu Y, Zhao S, Brusco OA, et al; Chinese Coronary Secondary Prevention Study Group. Effect of Xuezhikang, an extract from red yeast Chinese rice, on coronary events in a Chinese population with previous myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 2008;101:1689-93. [PMID: 18549841] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Chestnut Hill Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA 19118.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoRed Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients David J. Becker , Ram Y. Gordon , Steven C. Halbert , Benjamin French , Patti B. Morris , and Daniel J. Rader Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients Anna L. Kolpakchi , Ikedieze I. Chukwu , and Maria T. Vlachaki Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients David G. Le Couteur Red Yeast Rice for Dyslipidemia in Statin-Intolerant Patients Alfredo Vannacci , Francesco Lapi , Eugenia Gallo , Francesca Menniti-Ippolito , Alessandro Mugelli , and Fabio Firenzuoli Metrics Cited ByAn overview of the bioactivity of monacolin K / lovastatin 19 January 2010Volume 152, Issue 2Page: 135-136KeywordsDyslipidemiaHyperlipidemiaMyalgiaPharmacokineticsSafetySmellStatinsToxins ePublished: 19 January 2010 Issue Published: 19 January 2010 CopyrightCopyright © 2010 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...