Textual research on Gutian as place where red yeast rice originated / 中草药

China is regarded as the birthplace of red yeast rice (RYR). However, various opinions concerning the place where RYR originated and time when RYR invented exist. Upon newly-discovered documented files, current opinion saying "RYR was invented before Tang Dynasty" was proven to be invalid. Meanwhile, RYR in Gutian county Fujian province was verified to be manufactured before 28th year of Kaiyuan in the Tang Dynasty (AD 740) with rich historical data. Based on the fact dating back to the farthest times among those records reported nowadays, a conclusion was accordingly deduced that Gutian was the birthplace of RYR.

Clinical study on cholesterol-lowering effect of RYR Cholestin among Americans with moderate hy-percholesterolemia / 上海预防医学

[Objective] To evaluate lipid -lowering efficacy and safety of RYR Cholestin , or Monascus purpureus (Red Yeast) Rice, in Americans with moderate hypercholesterolemia. [Methods] This study was an open-label, self-control, and multi-center clinical trial.A total of 187 subjects were entered into this trial (serum LDL-Cholesterol 3.50~4.92 mmol/L,total cholesterol 5.18~7.25 mmol/L, male:female=116∶71) , of whom 162 completed the study .Subjects were placed on the NCEP Step I Diet throughout the study and RYR Cholestin (2.4 g/day) was administered for 8 weeks following initial 4-week diet control . [ Results] Being on the diet alone for 4 weeks resulted in no significant changes in serum lipids .RYR Cholestin treatment for 8 weeks reduced serum total cholesterol , LDL-Cholesterol and triglycerides by 16 .6%, 24 .0%, and 25 .2%, respectively , and increased HDL-Cholesterol by 14 .3%( all P<0 .001 ) .There were 97 .5% of patients having ≥10% improvement in at least one of lipid risk factors, and 79.0%having ≥20% improvement.Discontinuation of RYR Cholestin intervention for 14 d led to a return of serum lipids to baseline of pre -study .And 29 possible product -related mild adverse re-actions were reported . [ Conclusion] RYR Cholestin is well tolerated and effective in reducing total and LDL-Cholesterol, and triglycerides, as well as in increasing HDL-Cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients, but those indicators return to the beginning baseline when the treatment is discontinued .