Red Yeast Rice preparation decreases the risk of dying from a stroke, heart attack, or sudden cardiac death in diabetics with heart disease

A total of 591 diabetic patients who also had coronary heart disease (CHD) were given either a Red Yeast Rice preparation or inactive placebo for comparisons sake. They were followed for 4 years on average. Red Yeast Rice decreased the risk of a CHD related event such as a heart attack by 50.8% vs. placebo. The risk of dying from a heart attack dropped by 58.5%, and the incidence of non-fatal heart attack dropped by 63.8%. Sudden cardiac death dropped by 27%, and death related to other incidents related to CHD (not fatal MI or sudden cardiac death) dropped by 53.4%. The study is published in the February 2007 issue of the American published journal the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology.