Cholesterol Complex Formula is the best synergistic dietary supplement against cholesterol and triglycerides.
One of its key ingredients, Ankascin® 568-P, is a fermented red yeast rice that has been clinically studied and contains no monacolines.
This makes the supplement an essential part of our cholesterol-fighting product category.
What are the composition and benefits of the best dietary supplement against cholesterol?
Cholesterol Complex Formula is made up of 3 carefully selected ingredients:
- Ankascin® 568-P, a fermented red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) that differs from traditional red yeast rice in its absence of monacolins, natural statins that are sometimes undesirable. Four randomised, double-blind clinical studies have evaluated the effects of this ingredient. One study of 39 participants taking 440 mg/d showed a reduction in total cholesterol of 11.9% and LDL ('bad cholesterol') of 19% in 4 weeks, with an increase in HDL ('good cholesterol') (1). The 3 other clinical studies, conducted with a dose of 880 mg/d, gave conclusive results on triglycerides, blood sugar and blood pressure (2-4). Preliminary studies also suggest a reduction in body fat (including visceral fat) and factors associated with neurodegenerative disorders (5-6). Ankascin® 568-P also has an excellent safety profile (7). The ingredient is standardised to 0.7% monascin and 0.23% ankaflavin, potent bioactive compounds thought to act through a unique mechanism that activates the transcription factors PPARɣ and Nrf2, promoting metabolic regulation, insulin sensitivity and the reduction of oxidative stress;
- artichoke extract, which several meta-analyses confirm helps to regulate blood lipid levels (LDL, cholesterol and triglycerides) (8-10). It acts by limiting hepatic production of cholesterol, promoting its elimination via the bile and protecting LDL from oxidation, thereby reducing the build-up of deposits in blood vessels. Note that our extract is derived from the leaves of artichoke stems, which are particularly rich in cholesterol-lowering active ingredients, rather than from the small, fleshy leaves that are typically consumed;
- policosanols from sugar cane. These are fatty alcohols studied for their potential ability to reduce total cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL. Their mode of action is thought to involve inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, a key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis. Several studies on animal models and clinical trials have been devoted to them (11-14).
The 6 strengths of our monacolin-free red yeast rice supplement
Our anti-cholesterol food supplement has 6 main strengths:
- the absence of monacolins: Ankascin® 568-P differs from classic red yeast rice in that it contains no monacolins, which are plant statins. Choosing this monacolin-free formulation avoids the side effects sometimes encountered when taking statins (such as muscle pain or liver problems);
- an innovative, clinically studied ingredient: the innovative ingredient Ankascin® 568-P also stands out for its tested efficacy on cholesterol, LDL and HDL, observed in the human clinical studies mentioned above;
- complementary effects: unlike traditional red yeast rice, Ankascin® 568-P is also being studied for its potential ability to reduce triglycerides, blood sugar and blood pressure, not to mention its possible effects on cognitive health;
- a tailor-made dosage: the Ankascin® 568-P content is exactly the same as that used in the clinical study showing its effects on cholesterol;
- optimal synergy: the formula combines the best-known natural compounds in the field, including fermented red yeast rice, artichoke extract and policosanols;
- vegetable capsules: finally, the supplement is packaged in vegetable-based HPMC capsules, with acacia gum, a 100% natural compound, being the only excipient.
Daily dose: 2 capsules Number of doses per box: 30 |
Daily dose |
Ankascin® 568-P Monascus purpureus Fermented red yeast rice standardised to 0.7% monascin and 0.2% ankaflavin and without monacolin) |
500 mg |
Artichoke leaf extract standardised to 5 % cynarin |
300 mg |
Policosanols from sugar cane |
30 mg |
Other ingredients: acacia gum, hypromellose capsule. Ankascin® 568-P is a registered trademark of Sunway Biotech co, Ltd. |
Recommended amount: take 2 capsules a day with meals.
Duration: 30 days.
Storage: store in a cool, dark and dry place.
Watch out: not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, people over 70, those taking another product containing red yeast rice, or those on cholesterol-lowering medication. Do not take more than 3 mg of red yeast rice monacolins per day.
Precautions: for adults only. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. This product is a dietary supplement and should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle.
- Chen, C.-L., & Pan, T.-M. (2019). Beneficial effects of Monascus purpureus NTU 568-fermented products on cholesterol in vivo and clinical trial: A review. Integrative Clinical Medicine, 3(2), 1-7.
- Wang, Y.-R., Liu, S.-F., Shen, Y.-C., Chen, C.-L., Huang, C.-N., Pan, T.-M., & Wang, C.-K. (2017). A randomized, double-blind clinical study to determine the effect of ANKASCIN 568 plus on blood glucose regulation. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 25(2), 409-416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda.2016.09.002
- Liu, S.-F., Wang, Y.-R., Shen, Y.-C., Chen, C.-L., Huang, C.-N., Pan, T.-M., & Wang, C.-K. (2017). A randomized, double-blind clinical study of the effects of Ankascin 568 plus on blood lipid regulation. Journal of Functional Foods, 36, 332-340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.07.013
- Chen, C.-L., Tseng, J.-H., Pan, T.-M., & Hsiao, S.-H. (2017). A randomized, double-blind clinical study on blood pressure reduction and blood lipid profile amelioration on treatment with Ankascin 568. Chinese Journal of Physiology, 60(3), 158–165. https://doi.org/10.4077/CJP.2017.BAF452
- Liu, C.-F., Chuang, H.-T., Wang, C.-S., Hsu, Y.-W., Pan, T.-M., & Lee, C.-L. (2025). Monascus pilosus SWM-008 red mold rice and its components, monascinol and monascin, reduce obesity in a high-fat diet-induced rat model through synergistic modulation of gut microbiota and anti-lipogenesis. Food & Function, 16(3), 966–985. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FO05435K
- Lee, Chun-Lin and Tzu-Ming Pan. “The Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease by Monascus purpureus NTU 568-Fermented Compounds.” Journal of Alzheimers Disease & Parkinsonism 7 (2017): 1-8.
- Lin et al. Toxicological evaluation of the red mold rice extract, ANKASCIN 568-R: 13-week chronic toxicity, and genotoxicity studies. Toxicol Rep 2022 (9): 356-365.
- Shahinfar H, Bazshahi E, Amini MR, Payandeh N, Pourreza S, Noruzi Z, Shab-Bidar S. Effects of artichoke leaf extract supplementation or artichoke juice consumption on lipid profile: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytother Res. 2021 Dec;35(12):6607-6623. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7247. Epub 2021 Sep 27. PMID: 34569671.
- Sahebkar A, Pirro M, Banach M, Mikhailidis DP, Atkin SL, Cicero AFG. Lipid-lowering activity of artichoke extracts: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2018;58(15):2549-2556. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2017.1332572. Epub 2017 Aug 24. PMID: 28609140.
- Tadeusz Osadnik, Marcin Goławski, Piotr Lewandowski, Jakub Morze, Kamila Osadnik, Natalia Pawlas, Mateusz Lejawa, Grzegorz K. Jakubiak, Agnieszka Mazur, Lucas Schwingschackl, Mariusz Gąsior, Maciej Banach, A network meta-analysis on the comparative effect of nutraceuticals on lipid profile in adults, Pharmacological Research, Volume 183, 2022, 106402, ISSN 1043-6618, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106402. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661822003474)
- Lee JY, Choi HY, Kang YR, Chang HB, Chun HS, Lee MS, Kwon YI. Effects of long-term supplementation of policosanol on blood cholesterol/glucose levels and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase activity in a rat model fed high cholesterol diets. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2016 Jun 30;25(3):899-904. doi: 10.1007/s10068-016-0147-y. PMID: 30263351; PMCID: PMC6049138.
- Uehara Y, Komatsu T, Sasaki K, Abe S, Nakashima S, Yamamoto T, Kim JE, Cho KH. Cuban policosanol improves high-density lipoprotein cholesterol efflux capacity in healthy Japanese subjects. Front Nutr. 2024 Jan 8;10:1297008. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1297008. PMID: 38260075; PMCID: PMC10800607.
- Castaño G, Más R, Fernández J, López E, Illnait J, Fernández L, Mesa M. Effects of policosanol on borderline to mildly elevated serum total cholesterol levels: a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, comparative study. Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2003 Sep;64(8):522-37. doi: 10.1016/j.curtheres.2003.09.002. PMID: 24944402; PMCID: PMC4053045.
- Cho KH, Kim SJ, Yadav D, Kim JY, Kim JR. Consumption of Cuban Policosanol Improves Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile via Enhancement of HDL Functionality in Healthy Women Subjects: Randomized, Double-Blinded, and Placebo-Controlled Study. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Apr 16;2018:4809525. doi: 10.1155/2018/4809525. PMID: 29854085; PMCID: PMC5944267.