Effect of Xuezhikang, an extract from red yeast Chinese rice, on coronary events in a Chinese population with previous myocardial infarction.

Abstract

Results of well-controlled prospective clinical trials showed the efficacy of lipid-lowering therapies in the reduction of cardiovascular (CV) events in western populations, but they were not reported with a Chinese population. This multicenter study was conducted to determine the effects of Xuezhikang (XZK), a partially purified extract of red yeast rice, on lipoprotein and CV end points in Chinese patients who experienced a previous myocardial infarction. Nearly 5,000 of these patients with average low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at baseline were randomly assigned either to placebo or to XZK daily for an average of 4.5 years. The primary end point was a major coronary event that included nonfatal myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease. Frequencies of the primary end point were 10.4% in the placebo group and 5.7% in the XZK-treated group, with absolute and relative decreases of 4.7% and 45%, respectively. Treatment with XZK also significantly decreased CV and total mortality by 30% and 33%, the need for coronary revascularization by 1/3, and lowered total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, but raised high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. In conclusion, long-term therapy with XZK significantly decreased the recurrence of coronary events and the occurrence of new CV events and deaths, improved lipoprotein regulation, and was safe and well tolerated.

• Authors: Zongliang Lu, Wenrong Kou, Baomin Du, Yangfeng Wu, Shuiping Zhao, Osvaldo A Brusco, John M Morgan, David M Capuzzi, Chinese Coronary Secondary Prevention Study Group, S Li
• Journal: The American journal of cardiology (Am J Cardiol) Vol. 101 Issue 12 Pg. 1689-93 (Jun 15 2008) ISSN: 0002-9149 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18549841 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biological Products
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• red yeast rice
• xuezhikang

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Biological Products (pharmacology)
• China (epidemiology)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood, drug effects)
• Dietary Supplements
• Double-Blind Method
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (administration & dosage, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
• Hyperlipoproteinemias (blood, drug therapy, epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Morbidity (trends)
• Myocardial Infarction (epidemiology, prevention & control)
• Prospective Studies
• Survival Rate (trends)
• Time Factors
• Treatment Outcome