Heart & Blood Fish oil, red yeast rice better than statins
By David Liu, Ph.D.
Jul 8, 2008 - 11:17:53 AM
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TUESDAY July 8, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Results of a
small trial show that taking fish oil and red yeast rice can effectively lower bad cholesterol
in the blood and triglycerides, proving that the alternative therapy may be a
safe replacement for statins.
Statins, which cause adverse effects in many patients, are
the standard treatment used in the Western medicine to lower cholesterol in
hopes to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Although this class of drugs is effective in lowering cholesterol,
the protection against heart disease is largely only for those who have
existing heart conditions.
The benefit
for those who do not have a current heart condition is nearly non-existent.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and other
organizations wanted to know if fish oil/red yeast rice could be used to treat high
blood cholesterol. If effective, they may be used by those who have high
cholesterol, but do not have existing cardiovascular disease.
In the trial of 74 patients with high blood cholesterol who
met standard criteria for statin therapy, the researchers assigned randomly
either a supplement of fish oil/ red yeast rice or Zocor (simvastatin) at a dose of
40 milligrams (mg) each day for three months.
The participants in the fish oil/red yeast rice group were
enrolled in a 12-week multidisciplinary lifestyle program that involved 3.5
hours education each week from professionals including a cardiologist, dietitian,
exercise physiologist and several alternative practitioners.
Fish oil is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and
protect against heart disease. Red yeast rice, commonly used in some Asian countries
to brew rice wine, has also been known to have several compounds known to
inhibit cholesterol production.
Those who were treated with fish oil and red yeast
experienced a significant drop in LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol or
the bad cholesterol, 42.4 percent compared to 39.6 percent in the statins group,
the researchers found.
Participants receiving the alternative therapy also experienced
other benefits and they had a substantial reduction in triglycerides, another
form of fat in the blood and lost weight.
The results were published in the July issue of Mayo Clinic
Proceedings.
"Our study was designed to test a comprehensive and
holistic approach to lipid lowering," notes the study's lead author, David
Becker, M.D., a Chestnut Hill Hospital and University of Pennsylvania Health
System cardiologist.
"These results are intriguing and show a potential
benefit of an alternative, or naturopathic, approach to a common medical
condition."
The trial is small and only for a short term.
Dr. Becker acknowledges that a larger,
multicenter trial with longer follow-up is necessary to determine long-term
compliance with the alternative regimen.
Early studies show many patients were unable or unwilling to
follow lifestyle recommendations for a long term, according to Dr. Becker.
"The excellent adherence in the alternative group was
undoubtedly related to the intensive follow-up, education and support provided
for this group," said Dr. Becker.