Alternative Approaches to Correcting Hypercholesterolemia: Effects of Standardized Red Rice Extracts and Its Synergists
Effective and safe pharmacotherapy of hypercholesterolemia is an important task of modern cardiology. In elderly patients with underweight, vitamin D deficiency and disorders that increase the risk of statin-induced myopathy (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, chronic liver and kidney disease), as well as in patients with statin intolerance, it is promising to use standardized extracts of red yeast rice. Low toxicity and high content of polyphenols, proanthocyanidins, and natural statins (including monacolin K) in standardized extracts of red yeast rice determines their higher bioavailability, pronounced hypocholesterolemic effect, and several other clinically important effects. The article presents the results of fundamental and clinical studies on the effect of standardized extracts of red yeast rice on inflammation, apoptosis of various cell types, carbohydrate metabolism, lipid profile modulation, and vascular wall stiffness in patients with various comorbidities affecting cardiovascular system.