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Many patients cannot tolerate statins because of muscle ache. One potential option for these patients is the herbal preparation, red yeast rice, which has been shown to decrease LDL levels. These investigators conducted a randomized, controlled trial in 62 adults with hypercholesterolemia who discontinued statin therapy after experiencing myalgias. Patients were assigned to receive red yeast rice (1800 mg) or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks. All participants were enrolled in a 12-week lifestyle-change program. Mean age was 60.5 in the red yeast rice group and 61.5 in the placebo group; 65% of the patients were women.
In the red yeast rice group, the mean LDL level was reduced from baseline by 27.3% at week 12 and by 21.3% at week 24. The co…