CardioREGAIN + VesseCLEAR EX

Active ingredients per 2 capsules (CholRestore): 

700 mg Red Yeast Rice, 500 mg Phytosterols

Composition of phytosterols:
• Brassicasterol 
• Campesterol 
• Stigmasterol 
• β-sitosterol 

Active Ingredients per 1 softgel (CardioREGAIN)

Ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) 100mg, Krill Oil (Superba2) 100mg, Pine Bark Extract (Enzogenol) 20mg, Astaxanthin (AstaReal) 4mg

Other ingredients:  Olive Oil, Glycerol Esters of Fatty Acids

Recommended dosage for CholRestore: 2 capsules daily with water at your largest meal.

Recommended dosage for CardioREGAIN: 1 softgel daily after breakfast or lunch, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

Research Proven Benefits of Key Ingredients 

1. Support healthy cholesterol & triglyceride levels
a. RED YEAST RICE 
Statin drugs are prescribed medicines that help to lower cholesterol levels and prevent cardiovascular disease. However, with increasing reports of their side effects, natural alternatives are preferred by many. Red yeast rice has been used in alternative medicine to help support healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood; which in turn helped in supporting cardiovascular health. This fermented rice contains a naturally-derived bioactive compound - monacolin K, which has the same chemical makeup as a prescribed drug, lovastatin, often used to support healthy blood cholesterol levels.  

b. PHYTOSTEROLS 
As phytosterols are structurally similar to the body’s cholesterol, they compete with cholesterol for absorption in the digestive system when consumed. As a result, cholesterol absorption is hindered and blood cholesterol levels are within normal range. The efficacy of phytosterols in supporting healthy blood cholesterol levels have been confirmed in numerous clinical trials.

c. RED YEAST RICE + PHYTOSTEROLS 
Red yeast rice has been used as a food and folk medicine in China for centuries. This fermented rice contains a powerful compound monacolin K, which helps inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that is involved in cholesterol synthesis in the body; while phytosterols help reduce the absorption of dietary cholesterol and stimulates the excretion of cholesterol. The coupling of these two powerful ingredients helps support healthy blood lipid levels and support cardiovascular health. 

2. Support Cardiovascular Health
i). Blocked arteries:
High blood cholesterol can lead to clogged arteries in a process known as atherosclerosis (build-up of fatty deposits in artery wall). Progressively and silently, atherosclerosis grows cholesterol plaques, which may rupture and trigger blood clot formation. This sudden clotting restricts blood flow and can trigger a heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac death. 

In this animal test, mice were orally administered 600 – 1,200 mg/kg of red yeast rice extract for 8 weeks. Results showed that this extract significantly and dose-dependently inhibited vulnerable plaque progression, decreased the plaque area and improved plaque stability. In addition, in vitro study also showed that red yeast rice extract suppressed activation of NF-κB (a central mediator of inflammation that is involved in the molecular links between inflammatory and blood clotting processes). These findings suggested the beneficial effects of red yeast rice in supporting cardiovascular health. 

ii) Arterial stiffness:
Arterial stiffness or rigidity of the arterial wall occurs as a consequence of biological ageing and thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity. It has been associated with the onset of stroke and serves as an independent predictor of stroke incidence. 
In this clinical trial, 92 asymptomatic subjects were orally administered either a rapeseed oil-based spread enriched with 3.0g of plant stanols or control, daily for 6 months. Their arterial stiffness and endothelial function were then assessed. Endothelial function is connected to most markers of inflammation and cardiovascular risk. Arterial stiffness was unchanged in the group administered with plant stanols, but increased in control group (p = 0.023), as assessed using cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and augmentation index (AI). These findings suggested the beneficial effects of plant stanols in support healthy blood cholesterol levels, as well as support arterial flexibility.  

3. Improve prostate health
Prostate enlargement, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition that happens to almost all men as they get older. It is a non-cancerous increase in the size of the prostate gland and does not raise the risk for prostate cancer. An enlarged prostate gland causes uncomfortable urinary symptoms (known as dysuria), such as frequent urination, trouble initiating urination, weak urine stream, inability to urinate or loss of bladder control. In this clinical trial, 200 patients with prostate problem were orally administered 20 mg β-sitosterol (phytosterol) 3 times daily for 6 months. Compared to the control group, those treated with β-sitosterol showed a marked improvement in prostate health, as evaluated using International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), with higher scores indicating higher symptom severity.
 

4. Support brain health
Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides are the main components of amyloid plaques present in the brains of patients with brain problem. The peptides are derived from the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is cleaved by beta secretase and gamma secretase to produce Aβ. Diets high in cholesterol have been demonstrated to stimulate Aβ formation and deposition in the brain, while downregulating the secretion of neuroprotective soluble APP α-fragment (sAPPα). Research has reported that red yeast rice, which helps to support healthy cholesterol level and antioxidant helped mitigate Aβ-induced memory deficit. 
This vitro study observed the effect of red yeast rice extract on the mediation of proteolytic process of APP (breakdown of Aβ peptides) in cholesterol-treated human neuroblastoma IMR32 cells. Results showed that red yeast rice extract suppressed cholesterol-raised β-secretase activity and further resulted in the increase of sAPPα secretion in the IMR32 cell. 
In an animal test, the effect of red yeast rice extract on memory and learning ability was evaluated in Aβ40-infused hyperlipidemic rats. Results showed that red yeast rice extract helped support brain health.  (J. Agric. Food Chem. 58 (4), 2230–2238 (2010))
 
5. Support healthy liver
Fatty liver refers to a build-up of fat in the liver (over 5% of the total organ size), which rarely show any symptoms. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to fatty liver, known as alcoholic fatty liver disease. In many cases though, people who drink little or no alcohol also develop fatty liver, this is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD). Research has reported strong liver protective effect of red yeast rice extract in both alcoholic fatty liver and NAFLD mice models. 
 
6.  Support healthy bone density
Osteoporosis is a bone condition characterised by a loss of bone density, resulting from an imbalance between new bone formation and old bone resorption. In other words, the rate of new bone formation is slower than bone loss. Loss of more bone mass increases the risk of fractures, especially in the hip, spine and wrist. Several studies have suggested the protective role of red yeast rice in osteoporosis. 
In this animal test, rats with ovariectomy-induced bone loss were administered red yeast rice extract for 20 weeks. The results showed significant increase in bone mineral density and a decrease in bone turnover markers levels, including osteocalcin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. In addition, administration of red yeast rice also improved the viability of osteoblasts (cells that form bone tissue) and enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 2 and BMP4 that induce bone formation. Collectively, these findings suggested that red yeast rice extract may be useful in supporting healthy bone density

7.  Support healthy blood glucose level
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to help body cells absorb glucose so as to reduce the blood glucose levels in the body. High blood glucose would happen when the pancreas is not making sufficient insulin to keep blood glucose within the normal range. Other factor contributing to high blood glucose could be insulin resistance, where the body cells do not respond well to insulin and cannot easily take up the glucose from the blood. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the dysfunction of pancreas in diabetic condition and hence, is a promising therapeutical target for diabetes. 

In this animal test, diabetic mice were orally administered red yeast rice (300 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Results showed red yeast rice significantly decreased the blood glucose level by improving glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. It also inhibited the expression of key factors in oxidative stress, including 8-OHdG, 4-HNE, and gp91phox. These findings suggested that the effects of red yeast rice on oxidative stress may partly account for support health blood glucose level (J. Cardiovasc. Pharmacol. 63 (3): 282–289 (2014)).

 
8. Support healthy body weight
Overweight and obesity refer to abnormal or excessive fat accumulation, which increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. A study suggested that red yeast rice support healthy body weight.

In this in vitro study, 3T3-L1 cell line, a cell line derived from mouse that is used in research on adipose tissue (body fat) was used to evaluate the effects of red yeast rice extract on preadipocytes (cells that will differentiate into mature adipocytes) and on mature adipocytes (fat cells). Red yeast rice extract had inhibitory effects on 3T3-L1 preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation. In addition, it also enhanced the lipolysis activity (broken down of fat) in mature adipocytes, which negative correlated with the triglyceride content within cells.

In addition, an animal test was conducted to examine the support healthy weight loss effects of red yeast rice. Male rats were fed with high-fat (HF) diet supplemented with either red yeast rice or control for 6 weeks. Compared to rats fed with HF-diet, rats orally administered with red yeast rice showed lower weight gain, less fat pads mass, and smaller fat cells. These effects were probably the consequence of an increase in the lipolysis activity of adipose tissue and a reduction in food or energy consumption. These findings suggested that red yeast rice could potentially prevent body fat accumulation and support healthy blood lipid levels.