Abstract
Elevated serum cholesterol is a significant risk factor for morbidity and mortality. The main approach to reduce cholesterol is the use of statin drugs. The current study tested the use of a novel food-based technique to reduce cholesterol - the combination of red yeast rice extract (RYRE), extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and oatmeal. The study was a non-randomized prospective intervention that enrolled 86 patients with elevated total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
Highlights
Elevated cholesterol is a prevalent risk factor that causes morbidity and mortality
The following patients were excluded from study enrollment: 1) Those treated previously for hypercholesterolemia and had abnormal liver function test results; 2) Those with a history of statin-associated myositis or rhabdomyolysis, myocardial infarction, stent, or coronary artery bypass grafting; 3) Those taking any lipidregulating drugs, hormone replacement therapy, drugs known to affect lipid concentrations, or supplements known to affect lipid levels; 4) Those with an endocrine disease known to lead to lipid abnormalities; and 5) Those who selfreported pregnancy, lactation, current smoking, prevalent heart disease, or cancer
The present interventional prospective study assessed whether daily ingestion of red yeast rice extract (RYRE), extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and oatmeal could reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by a clinically significant extent
Summary
Despite the awareness of high cholesterol as a major health concern, nearly 100 million Americans have elevated cholesterol, and of those, less than 30% have their cholesterol levels under control [1]. In addition to serious health consequences, hypercholesterolemia is a significant economic burden. The estimated total cost of treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the United States, many of which are related to hypercholesterolemia, exceeds 400 billion dollars annually. This accounts for nearly 15% of all national healthcare costs. It represents an enormous economic burden and underscores the need to treat hypercholesterolemia in a timely and cost-effective manner
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