Fish Oil + Red Yeast Rice = Lower LDL

PHILADELPHIA—Supplementing with red yeast rice and fish oil in addition to making lifestyle changes (i.e., exercise, reduced fat intake) reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in adults in proportions similar to standard therapy with simvastatin (Mayo Clin Proc. 2008;83(7):758-764). The open-label trial, conducted between April 1, 2006, and June 30, 2006, enrolled 74 patients with hypercholesterolemia who met Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for primary prevention using statin therapy. All participants were randomized to an alternative treatment group (AG)—therapeutic lifestyle changes and ingestion of red yeast rice and fish oil supplements—or traditional treatment of 40 mg/d simvastatin and traditional counseling. There was a statistically significant reduction in LDL levels in both the AG (P<0.001) and the simvastatin group (P<0.001). No significant differences were noted between groups. The AG also demonstrated significant reductions in triglycerides (P=0.003) and weight (P<0.001) compared with the simvastatin group.