Impact of red yeast rice supplementation on lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials

ABSTRACT

Background

Dyslipidemia/hyperlipidemia are among the risk factors for chronic diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases. Red Yeast Rice (RYR) herbal supplement may be helpful in improving serum fat levels due to some mechanisms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of RYR consumption on total serum cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels in adults.

Research design and methods

Four comprehensive databases (SCOPUS, PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were employed until 23 December 2021 RCTs, with 24 treatment arms included after screening 3623 articles.

Results

Pooled data showed significant effectiveness in lowering TC (WMD: −33.16 mg/dl, 95% CI: −37.69, −28.63, P < 0.001), LDL-C (WMD: −28.94 mg/dl, 95% CI: −32.90, −24.99, P < 0.001), and TG (WMD: −23.36 mg/dl, 95% CI: −31.30, −15.43, P < 0.001) concentration and increasing HDL-C concentration (WMD: 2.49 mg/dl, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.49, P < 0.001) following RYR supplementation. Furthermore, the effect of this herbal drug in doses less than 1200 mg and with an intervention duration of less than 12 weeks was more in individuals with dyslipidemia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this comprehensive article and meta-analysis showed that RYR significantly decreases TC, TG, and LDL-C as well as increases HDL-C.

KEYWORDS:

• HDL-C
• LDL-C
• meta-analysis
• red yeast rice
• TC
• TG

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/17512433.2023.2138342

Author contributions

The authors thank MH Sohouli, and P Rohani for their contributions to the search strategy and initial work on conceptualizing the manuscript. The authors’ responsibilities were as follows: MH Sohouli, E Melekoglu, P Rohani, S Tavakoli, N Malekpour Alamdari, and P Rahmani: designed the study and wrote the manuscript; MH Sohouli: was responsible for final content; and all authors read and approved the final manuscript. The lead author affirms that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the reported analyses. No important aspects of the study have been omitted. No discrepancies from the study as originally planned took place. All outcomes are reported.

Data availability statement

Data described in the manuscript, code book, and analytic code will be made available upon request pending from corresponding author

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.