紅麴產品對於人體調節血脂和抗氧化之影響

紅麴是我國的傳統產品，當作藥用或做為食品添加劑，屬於食品類的營養補充品，可使膽固醇偏高的人維持正常的膽固醇濃度。而紅麴的二級代謝產物中，具有降膽固醇成分 (monacolins)、降血壓成分γ-胺基丁酸 (γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA)、抗腐敗菌成分 (monascidin)、防癌成分 (monacolins)等。紅麴有降膽固醇物質，且對動物具有調節血脂的功效，但對人體的功效卻未被證實。本研究探討補充紅麴產品對於血脂偏高的族群其血脂調節之情形並進一步觀察抗氧化的影響，實驗共篩選了287人，符合條件受試者有39人，最終完成受試者為32位。本研究納入條件為總膽固醇 (TC)介於180-300 mg/dL且三酸甘油酯 (TG)介於130-300 mg/dL屬於混合型血脂異常，並無服用降血脂藥之成年人 (20~65歲)。本研究為隨機雙盲平行試驗，受試者每天一次服用1顆紅麴產品或1顆安慰劑。試驗前有2個星期以上的穩定期、試驗期8週、追蹤期4週。每次檢測受試者體重、體脂肪、血壓變化，並採血測定三酸甘油酯、總膽固醇、低密度脂蛋白膽固醇(LDL-C, mg/dL)、高密度脂蛋白膽固醇 (HDL-C, mg/dL)、血糖、腎功能、肝功能、甲狀腺功能、電解質、及尿液等。本研究結果發現，服用紅麴產品8週後與起始期比較，血漿總膽固醇有顯著下降11.53mg/dL、低密度脂蛋白膽固醇顯著下降8.71mg/dL (p<0.05)，且與安慰劑組相比有顯著差異 (p<0.05)。另外， LDL-C/HDL-C比值及三酸甘油酯在服用紅麴產品8週後有下降的趨勢。而服用紅麴產品4、8週後會顯著增加血清中總抗氧化能力 (TEAC)與降低血清之脂質過氧化值 (TBARS)，且在抗氧化酵素方面，服用紅麴產品4、8週後可顯著增加麩胱甘肽過氧化酶活性 (GSH Px)及麩胱甘肽還原酶 (GSH Rd)活性。由本研究可知，服用紅麴產品具有調節血脂及抗氧化之功效。

Monascus is a traditional product which is used to medicinal and food addition. Monascus could reduce cholesterol level. The secondary metabolite produced of fermented Monascus, including cholesterol-lowering substance (monacolins), hypotensive substances (γ- amino butyric acid (GABA), anti- spoilage bacteria substance (monascidin), and anti-cancer substances (monacolins). Monascus has cholesterol-lowering substances to regulate blood lipids, but does not have been confirmed in the human. This study was to investigate the Monascus powder supplement for the mild-hyperlipidemia subjects. This study was a randomized, double-blinded trial, total have 287 subjects enrolled, 39 subjects were included and finally 32 subjects were completed. The criteria were total cholesterol (TC) between 180-300 mg / dL and triglyceride (TG) between 130-300 mg / dL, who were not taking lipid-lowering drugs (20 to 65 years old). Subjects take one capsule of Monascus or placebo per day. The study has 2 weeks run in period, 8 weeks intervention period, and 4 weeks follow-up period. All subjects measure body weight, body fat, blood pressure and biochemical parameters, including triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoproteinin in cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein in cholesterol (HDL-C), blood sugar, kidney and liver function, thyroid function, electrolytes, urine, total antioxidant capacity (TEAC), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) and glutathione reductase (GSH Rd). The results were found after 8 weeks intervention, the plasma total cholesterol and LDL-C were significantly decreased 11.53mg/dL and 8.71mg/dL (p <0.05) compared with the initial, and there were significantly difference (p <0.05) compared with the placebo group. LDL-C/HDL-C and triglyceride level has decrease trend. Subjects take Monascus after 4 and 8weeks, the TEAC was significantly increased, and TBARS level was significantly reduced. The expression of GSH Px and GSH Rd were also significantly increased. In conclusions, taking Monascus could decrease blood lipids, TBARS (p <0.05), and increase the GSH Px, GSH Rd, TEAC level.