Am Fam Physician. 2001;64(1):36-38
The article “Alternative Therapies: Part II. Congestive Heart Failure and Hypercholesterolemia” (September 15, 2000, page 1325) contained an error in the second sentence of the first full paragraph in the right-hand column on page 1328. The correct sentence reads as follows: “This ‘red rice yeast product’ has been used for centuries in China and contains starch, protein, fiber and at least eight statin compounds, which function as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors.” The abbreviation was also incorrectly expanded in Table 1. The corrected table is reprinted above.
| Product | Other names | Efficacy | Mechanism of action | Formulation | Dosage/interval | Side effects | Drug interactions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congestive heart failure (CHF) | |||||||
| Q10 | Ubiquinone | Modest, at best | Antioxidant; positive ionotrope | Liquid, capsules | 100 to 200 mg per day | None recorded | None recorded |
| Hawthorn | Crataegus species, haw, may, whitethorn | Incomplete, but highly promising data; approved for use in Germany and Asia for mild cases of CHF | Vasodilatory effects; increased coronary flow; decreased peripheral resistance; ACE–inhibitor-like effect | Dry extracts or liquid | Average daily dosage: 5 g or 160 to 900 mg extract for a minimum a minimum of 6 weeks | None recorded | May interfere with digoxin or digoxin monitoring |
| Hypercholesterolemia | |||||||
| Garlic | Allium sativum, poor man's treacle | Not efficacious | None | Fresh, oil, aqueous, fermented or dried | Large quantities can cause stomach stomach complaints | None recorded | |
| Soy | Glycine soja | Proved efficacy; will decrease total cholesterol 5 to 9%, LDL 13% | Estrogen-like properties; alters hepatic cholesterol metabolism | Extract | Average daily dosage: 25 g soy protein | Possible occasional stomach pain loose stool and diarrhea | None recorded |
| Cholestin | Went yeast, Monascus purpureus, fermented on rice | As efficacious as commercial Statins | HMG CoA reductase inhibitor | Capsules | 1,200 mg twice daily | Possible liver enzyme elevation and myositis; none, however, recorded | Same as commercially available statins |
| Gugulipid/guggal gum | Commiphora molmol, Arabian myrrh, Somalian myrrh | Preliminary data promising; needs larger controlled studies; widely used in India | Increased hepatic LDL binding sites* | Extract powdered resin; concentrated tablets | 75 mg per day | None recorded† | None recorded |