MediterrAsian Diet Products That Could Raise HDL-Cholesterol: A Systematic Review

Table 1

Red rice yeast.

First author, year [ref]	Number of participants; (M-F)	Age, y	Inclusion criteria	Dietary supplement		Duration (wk)	Mean or median baseline HDL-C (mmol/L)	Mean post-HDL-C (mmol/L)	Δ change; (within groups); ( valve)	MDΔ; (between groups); ( value)	Study design; (level of evidence)
				Intervention	Control
Moriarty, 2014 [22]	116; (30-86)		Aged ≥ 18 years with TC ≥ 6.2 mmol/L, LDL-C ≥ 4.14 mmol/L (but ≤5.69 mmol/L), and TG < 4.52 mmol/L.; Other requirements included a BMI < 36 kg/m^2.	Group A: XZK: 1200 mg/die; Patients: 36; Group B: XZK: 2400 mg/die; Patients: 29	Placebo; Patients: 38	12	I: Group A: Group B: C:	I: Group A: Group B: C:	I: Group A: +0.05 ( = NS); Group B: +0.04 ( = NS); C: −0.03 ( = NS)	I(A)-C: +0.08 ( = NR); I(B)-C: +0.07 ( = NR)	Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups trial; (Level 2)
Lee, 2013 [23]	30; (19-11)		Aged > 18 years, LDL-C > 4.14 mmol/L, or TG > 2.26.	RRY: 1200 mg/die; Patients: 30	None	8	1.05 (0.23)	NR	−0.03 ( = NS)	NE	Pre-post study; (Level 3)
Halbert, 2010 [24]	43; (11-32)		Statin or red yeast rice use during the month before randomization, a history of statin-associated myositis or rhabdomyolysis, and a history of generalized chronic pain.	RRY: 4800 mg/die; Patients: 17	Pravastatin: 40 mg; Patients: 22	12	I: C:	I: C:	I: −0.01 ( = NR); C: 0 ( = NR)	−0.01; ( = NR)	Randomized, double-blind trial; (Level 2)
Becker, 2009 [25]	62; (22-40)		Age from 21 to 80 years with hypercholesterolemia. LDL-C > 2.6 mmol/L or <5.5 mmol/L, TG ≥ 4.4 mmol/L.	RRY: 1800 mg/die; Patients: 30	Placebo; Patients: 29	24	I: C:	I: C:	I: 0.09 ( = NS); C: 0.07 ( = NS)	0.02; ( = NR)	Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial; (Level 2)
Stefanutti, 2009 [26]	240; (110-130)		Primary moderate hypercholesterolemia.; No cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, or obesity.	MP: 200 mg/die; Patients: 110	Hypocholesterolemic diet; Patients: 130	32	I: C:	I: C:	I: 0.03 ( = NS); C: −0.08 ( = NS)	0.10; ( = ns)	Randomized, open-labeled, parallel-groups trial; (Level 2)
Heber, 1999 [27]	83; (46-37)	—	LDL-C > 4.14 mmol/L, TG < 2.94 mmol/L, and having not been treated previously for hypercholesterolemia.	RRY: 2400 mg/die; Patients: 42	Placebo; Patients: 41	12	I: C:	I: C:	I: 0.00 ( = NS); C: 0.00 ( = NS)	0; ( = NR)	Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study; (Level 2)
Lu, 2008 [28]	4870; (3986-884)		No cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal or hepatic disease, systolic blood pressure < 180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure < 110 mmHg, and fasting plasma glucose < 200 mg/dL.; TC from 4.4 to 6.46 mmol/L, TG ≤ 4.52 mmol/L.; LDL-C > 4.65 mmol/L at screening could be retested after 4 weeks of dietary therapy.	XZK: 1200 mg/die; Patients: 2429	Placebo; Patients: 2441	182	I: C:	I: C:	I: 0.05 ( = NS); C: 0.00 ( = NS)	0.05; ()	Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups study; (Level 2)

MDΔ: mean difference Δ change.
I: intervention; C: control.
: value; NS: not significant (); NR: not recorded; NE: not expected.
XZK: Xuezhikang.
MP: Monascus purpureus.
RRY: red rice yeast.
As suggested by Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine [29].
Median (IQR).