OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of lipid-reducing red rice minute powder (LRRMP) on the levels of blood lipids, carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT), and the plaque integral of hyperlipidemia patients complicated with carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODSThis study was conducted from April 2005 to April 2006 according to inclusion criteria. Sixty hyperlipidemia patients complicated with carotid atherosclerosis were randomly assigned to the treatment group (20 cases), the Chinese medicine control group (CM control group, 20 cases), and the Western medicine control group (WM control group, 20 cases). They were recruited from the community of secondary machine tool factory of Jinan. Patients in the treatment group took LRRMP (175 mg/pill), one pill each time, twice daily. Patients in the CM control group took Xuezhikang Capsule (300 mg/pill), 2 pills each time, twice daily. Patients in the WM control group took Lovastatin Tablet (20 mg/tablet), 1 tablet each time, once daily. The course of treatment was 6 successive months for all. They avoided taking any lipid-regulating or anti-atherosclerotic drugs during the therapeutic course. The changes of Chinese medicine symptom scores, serum TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels, IMT of the carotid artery, and the plaque integral before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSAfter 6 months of treatment the Chinese medicine symptom scores reduced in each group ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the treatment group was superior to WM control group (P<0.05). Serum TC, TG and LDL-C levels were significantly lowered (P<0.05 or P<0.01), showing no significant difference in inter-group comparison (P>0.05). There was no statistical significance of the serum HDL-C level in each group (P>0.05). The IMT and the plaque integral significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), showing no statistical difference among all groups. One patient in the WM control group dropped out because of transaminase elevation. No serious adverse reaction correlated with the drugs occurred during the therapeutic course in the rest two groups.

CONCLUSIONSLRRMP showed definite effects on lipid-regulating and anti atherosclerosis. Its effects were equivalent to Xuezhikang Capsule and Lovastatin Tablet. Besides, it was safe and economic, and deserved further studies.