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Cardiovascular disease is still one of the most devastating diseases in our modern society.
The knowledge about this disease has evolved over time.
At one point, cholesterol (LDL-C) was seen as one of the main causes of cardiovascular disease. It is now clear that other factors play a more important role. Perhaps cholesterol is only a marker for disturbed fat and sugar metabolism. This disturbance leads to higher levels of oxidative stress, which risks oxidizing cholesterol and fatty acids. These oxidized substances are then encapsulated in and around the arteries which cause atherosclerosis.
The reasons for the disturbance of the fat and sugar metabolisms are partly due to our modern life habits. Our carbohydrate-dense foods, our drinking habits and our more sedentary lifestyles contribute to this. Smoking is also one of the stress factors. The long-recommended dietary recommendations have caused epidemics of obesity and diabetes. The reduction of fats, especially saturated fats in our diet and the replacement of fats by carbohydrates, has proved catastrophic.
Cutting off the production of cholesterol with statins is probably too one-dimensional for the treatment of atherosclerosis. Some recent studies think that statins can even stimulate atherosclerosis. Known side effects are muscle pain or even rhabdomyolysis (general muscle degeneration) and liver damage. Statins also inhibit brown (healthy) fat activity.
One of the more dangerous effects is the decrease in the production of coenzyme Q10 in the body, an enzyme that is ironically made from cholesterol and protects our body against oxidative stress. A good illustration of how nature works.
Red yeast rice has a good reputation as a substitute for statins because it also contains monacolin K, which is a statin. However, this active ingredient is the same as one of the active ingredients in the prescription drug lovastatin. That’s why red yeast rice has all the same possible side effects, drug interactions, and precautions as statins.
And for people who already use statins, can this lead to an overdose.
Ankascin® is red yeast rice that does not contain monacolin K or natural lovastatin. It is known that regular red yeast rice does more than just inhibit cholesterol production in the body.
A selected microorganism monascus purpureus NTU 568 offers all the benefits without the natural statin and makes an alternative red yeast rice without side effects.
Ankascin® contains active substances such as ankaflavin and monascin that positively regulate various transcription factors (including PPARγ, PPARα and Nrf2), associated with the prevention of metabolic syndrome and other diseases. And this ingredient also has the same beneficial effect on cholesterol and triglycerides as regular red yeast rice.
The results are well documented in clinical studies and show excellent results in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Most of the effects relate to the energy management of cells and the fight against inflammation.
A summary of the health implications:
- Stimulates the efflux of cholesterol as bile acid
- Reduces LDL-cholesterol
- Inhibits the synthesis of triglycerides from free fatty acids
- Helps reduce hyperlipidaemia and obesity
- Inhibits the formation of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Stimulates ATP synthesis from free fatty acids, transforming them into energy
- Restores insulin sensitivity
- Stimulates insulin production in pancreas
- Elevates glucose uptake in the liver
- Lowers fasting blood glucose
- Inhibits inflammation
- Decreases oxidative stress
- Suppresses inflammatory cytokine production
- Offers neuroprotection and helps prevent Alzheimer’s disease
- Lowers blood pressure
- Reduces beta-amyloid deposition in the brain.
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