Red Yeast Rice Extract Compared Simvastatin Shr Left Ventricular Remodeling Study

Objective: To investigate the Chinese red-rice-yeast extraction (RRYE) and simvastatin's effects on left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) . Methods: 18 male SHRs twelve-week-old were randomized into 3 groups to treatment with red-rice-yeast extraction (RRYE group, n=6), or simvastatin (SIM group, n=6) or normal saline(NS group,n=6). After 12 weeks, serum lipid profile, sysyolic blood pressure(SBP), left ventricular mass index(LVMI), myocardial collagen fraction(CVF)were measured. Results: CVF (p<0. 001) and LVMI (p<0.01) were significantly decreased in RRYE group. simvastatin also reduced CVF(p<0.01) remarkably, but the reduction of LVMI (p=0.074) did not reach statistical significanse. There was no significant difference of lipid profile and SBP among 3 goups. Conclusion: Chinese red-rice-yeast extraction has beneficial effects on left ventricular remodeling in SHR, These effects is similar to those of simvastatin and may be independent of cholesterol-lowering property.