Efficacy and safety of Monascus purpureus Went rice in subjects with secondary hyperlipidemia.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nephrotic dyslipidemia is a risk factor for the development of systemic atherosclerosis; it may also aggravate glomerulosclerosis and enhance the progression of glomerular disease. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Monascus purpureus Went rice versus fluvastatin therapy in the management of nephrotic dyslipidemia.

METHODS

In total 72 patients with idiopathic persistent NS with secondary dyslipidemia were included. They were randomly allocated into three age- and sex-matched groups. The first group comprised 20 cases that were given M. purpureus Went rice in a dose of 600 mg twice per day for one month and then once daily. The second group comprised 30 cases that were given fluvastatin in a daily dose of 20 mg. The remaining 22 received no antidyslipidemic therapy and constituted a control group. All of these patients were subjected to thorough laboratory investigations, including renal function tests and lipograms. Moreover, neuromuscular status was evaluated with electromyography and nerve conduction velocity.

RESULTS

Our results showed that both fluvastatin and M. purpureus Went rice were well-tolerated with no evidence of significant side effects, including on neuromuscular function. Both M. purpureus Went rice and fluvastatin significantly reduced cholesterol after six months and one year, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Monascus purpureus Went rice is a safe, effective and economic treatment strategy for nephrotic dyslipidemia.