Does EFSA statement on Monacolin content of nutraceutical combinations impair their lipid lowering effect? The LopiGLIK experience

Alessia Izzo; Rosa Costanzo; Lucia De Martino; Salvatore Di Napoli

doi:10.1186/s40842-024-00204-6

Does EFSA statement on Monacolin content of nutraceutical combinations impair their lipid lowering effect? The LopiGLIK experience

Clin Diabetes Endocrinol. 2024 Nov 30;10(1):38. doi: 10.1186/s40842-024-00204-6.

Authors

Alessia Izzo¹, Rosa Costanzo², Lucia De Martino², Salvatore Di Napoli³

Affiliations

¹ Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
² Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy.
³ Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy. [email protected].

Abstract

Background: Monacolin-K, the active component of red yeast rice (RYR), reduces cholesterol by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase. Following safety concerns, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended limiting Monacolin-K intake to less than 3 mg/day due to adverse effects at higher doses.

Case presentation: A study comparing Armolipid Plus^® and LopiGLIK^® found LopiGLIK^® more effective in lowering LDL cholesterol, possibly due to slightly higher dosages of Berberine and Monacolin-K. Despite reducing Monacolin-K content to 2.99 mg following EFSA guidelines, LopiGLIK^® maintained its cholesterol-lowering efficacy.

Conclusions: Taken together, our results indicate that other ingredients, such as Morus alba, may contribute to LopiGLIK^®'s enhanced effectiveness, challenging the notion that minor differences in Monacolin-K dosage account for the observed efficacy.

Keywords: LDL cholesterol; Monacolin-K; Morus alba; Nuraceuticals; Red Yeast Rice (RYR).