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The Herbal Blogger
News views and opinions on the latest issue in the world of herbal medicine
News views and opinions on the latest issue in the world of herbal medicine
To start off the Herbal Blogger we are showcasing a new piece of research just published by Mayo Clinic Proceedings on the use of red yeast rice combined with fish oil supplements and lifestyle changes compared with the use of a statin. What do you think of this research? Let us know in the comments section. Do you have a topic you wish to share with other medical herbalists – e-mail it to us on sales@prolinebotanicals.com and we will publish it here. This is your section of the website for you to discuss any topic relevant to herbal medicine. Let us know what you are thinking!
Simvastatin vs Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes and Supplements:
Randomized Primary Prevention Trial
DAVID J. BECKER, MD; RAM Y. GORDON, MD; PATTI B. MORRIS, RD; JACQUELINE YORKO, MED; Y. JEROLD GORDON, MD; MINGYAO LI, PHD; NAYYAR IQBAL, MD, MSCE
OBJECTIVE : To compare the lipid-lowering effects of an alternative regimen (lifestyle changes, red yeast rice, and fish oil) with a standard dose of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin).
PATIENTS AND METHODS : This randomized trial 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) or to receive simvastatin (40 mg/d) in this open-label trial conducted between April 1, 2006, and June 30, 2006. The alternative treatment included therapeutic lifestyle changes, ingestion of red yeast rice, and fish oil supplements for 12 weeks. The simvastatin group received medication and traditional counseling. The primary outcome measure was the percentage change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Secondary measures were changes in other lipoproteins and weight loss.
RESULTS : There was a statistically significant reduction in LDL-C levels in both the AG (–42.4%±15%) (P<.001) and the simvastatin group (–39.6%±20%) (P<.001). No significant differences were noted between groups. The AG also demonstrated significant reductions in triglycerides (–29% vs –9.3%; 95% confidence interval, –61 to –11.7; P=.003) and weight (–5.5% vs –0.4%; 95% confidence interval, –5.5 to –3.4; P<.001) compared with the simvastatin group.
CONCLUSION : Lifestyle changes combined with ingestion of red yeast rice and fish oil reduced LDL-C in proportions similar to standard therapy with simvastatin. Pending confirmation in larger trials, this multifactorial, alternative approach to lipid lowering has promise for a subset of patients unwilling or unable to take statins.
Simvastatin vs Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes and Supplements:
Randomized Primary Prevention Trial
DAVID J. BECKER, MD; RAM Y. GORDON, MD; PATTI B. MORRIS, RD; JACQUELINE YORKO, MED; Y. JEROLD GORDON, MD; MINGYAO LI, PHD; NAYYAR IQBAL, MD, MSCE
OBJECTIVE : To compare the lipid-lowering effects of an alternative regimen (lifestyle changes, red yeast rice, and fish oil) with a standard dose of a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin).
PATIENTS AND METHODS : This randomized trial 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) or to receive simvastatin (40 mg/d) in this open-label trial conducted between April 1, 2006, and June 30, 2006. The alternative treatment included therapeutic lifestyle changes, ingestion of red yeast rice, and fish oil supplements for 12 weeks. The simvastatin group received medication and traditional counseling. The primary outcome measure was the percentage change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Secondary measures were changes in other lipoproteins and weight loss.
RESULTS : There was a statistically significant reduction in LDL-C levels in both the AG (–42.4%±15%) (P<.001) and the simvastatin group (–39.6%±20%) (P<.001). No significant differences were noted between groups. The AG also demonstrated significant reductions in triglycerides (–29% vs –9.3%; 95% confidence interval, –61 to –11.7; P=.003) and weight (–5.5% vs –0.4%; 95% confidence interval, –5.5 to –3.4; P<.001) compared with the simvastatin group.
CONCLUSION : Lifestyle changes combined with ingestion of red yeast rice and fish oil reduced LDL-C in proportions similar to standard therapy with simvastatin. Pending confirmation in larger trials, this multifactorial, alternative approach to lipid lowering has promise for a subset of patients unwilling or unable to take statins.
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