Metabolic outcomes of Red yeast rice administration in patients treated with second-generation antipsychotics

Rationale Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are notoriously associated with a wide range of metabolic adverse effects, and their chronic use is related with an increased risk for the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). The nutraceutical approach to the management of MS might be a promising strategy in the prevention of cardio-metabolic risk. In this context, Red yeast rice (RYR) have been shown to have a lipid lowering effect in an increasing number of clinical studies. Objectives The present study was aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of RYR treatment on metabolic parameters in a sample of subjects receiving atypical antipsychotics. Methods Ten outpatients treated with atypical APs assumed RYR at single daily dose of 200 mg/day for 30 days. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), triglycerides, fasting levels of glucose, and glycated hemoglobin were determined. Results RYR administration non-resulted in a statistically significant reduction of metabolic parameters in the study sample. However, a trend for total cholesterol (T0 vs. T1: 159.6 vs. 145.6) and LDL (T0 vs. T1: 94.1 vs. 77.6) decrease was observed. Conclusions Our findings in patients receiving atypical antipsychotics did not confirm the beneficial effect of RYS on lipemic profiles previously found in subjects who do not take this class of drugs. Further clinical trials with adequately-powered and well-designed methodology are needed to better explore the RYS effectiveness on the SGAs-induced metabolic side effects.