Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two Cases

Numerous health concerns, primarily kidney injury, have been reported with the use of Beni-kōji CholesteHelp, a functional food containing red yeast rice. Here, we describe 2 cases of kidney injury caused by beni-kōji. The first case had normal kidney function before consuming the product. After sev...

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Main Authors: Kiyotaka Uchiyama, Masako Otani, Naoki Chigusa, Kazuya Sugita, Ryosuke Matsuoka, Koji Hosoya, Mina Komuta, Jun Ito, Naoki Washida
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Kidney Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590059524001195
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author Kiyotaka Uchiyama
Masako Otani
Naoki Chigusa
Kazuya Sugita
Ryosuke Matsuoka
Koji Hosoya
Mina Komuta
Jun Ito
Naoki Washida
author_facet Kiyotaka Uchiyama
Masako Otani
Naoki Chigusa
Kazuya Sugita
Ryosuke Matsuoka
Koji Hosoya
Mina Komuta
Jun Ito
Naoki Washida
author_sort Kiyotaka Uchiyama
collection DOAJ
description Numerous health concerns, primarily kidney injury, have been reported with the use of Beni-kōji CholesteHelp, a functional food containing red yeast rice. Here, we describe 2 cases of kidney injury caused by beni-kōji. The first case had normal kidney function before consuming the product. After several months of use, she developed hypertension. After 6 months of supplement consumption, her estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) dropped to 22.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. A spot urine sample showed a urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of 2.03 g/g, leading to the diagnosis of Fanconi syndrome. Kidney biopsy showed tubular degeneration. Thirty-five days after discontinuing the supplement, proteinuria resolved and the eGFR returned to baseline level. The second case, who had diabetes and normal kidney function, experienced severe kidney injury (eGFR, 3.5 mL/min/1.73 m2) after 4 months of Beni-kōji CholesteHelp use. He required hemodialysis for >2 weeks but recovered kidney function after the product was discontinued. Kidney biopsy showed tubular injury similar to the first case and glomeruli changes consistent with diabetic nephropathy. These cases indicate that beni-kōji use is associated with tubular toxicity. Further studies are required to identify the precise etiology and mechanism of kidney injury.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2590-0595
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Kidney Medicine
spelling doaj-art-857e3741adbe47b29df8ab8b1aa7a0eb2024-11-17T04:52:29ZengElsevierKidney Medicine2590-05952024-11-01611100908Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two CasesKiyotaka Uchiyama0Masako Otani1Naoki Chigusa2Kazuya Sugita3Ryosuke Matsuoka4Koji Hosoya5Mina Komuta6Jun Ito7Naoki Washida8Department of Nephrology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Chiba, Japan; Address for Correspondence: Kiyotaka Uchiyama, MD, PhD, Department of Nephrology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, 852, Hatakeda, Narita, Chiba 286-8520, Japan.Department of Pathology, International University of Health and Welfare Mita Hospital, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Nephrology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Nephrology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Pathology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Nephrology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital, Tochigi, JapanDepartment of Pathology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Nephrology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Chiba, JapanDepartment of Nephrology, International University of Health and Welfare Narita Hospital, Chiba, JapanNumerous health concerns, primarily kidney injury, have been reported with the use of Beni-kōji CholesteHelp, a functional food containing red yeast rice. Here, we describe 2 cases of kidney injury caused by beni-kōji. The first case had normal kidney function before consuming the product. After several months of use, she developed hypertension. After 6 months of supplement consumption, her estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) dropped to 22.5 mL/min/1.73 m2. A spot urine sample showed a urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio of 2.03 g/g, leading to the diagnosis of Fanconi syndrome. Kidney biopsy showed tubular degeneration. Thirty-five days after discontinuing the supplement, proteinuria resolved and the eGFR returned to baseline level. The second case, who had diabetes and normal kidney function, experienced severe kidney injury (eGFR, 3.5 mL/min/1.73 m2) after 4 months of Beni-kōji CholesteHelp use. He required hemodialysis for >2 weeks but recovered kidney function after the product was discontinued. Kidney biopsy showed tubular injury similar to the first case and glomeruli changes consistent with diabetic nephropathy. These cases indicate that beni-kōji use is associated with tubular toxicity. Further studies are required to identify the precise etiology and mechanism of kidney injury.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590059524001195Red yeast ricekidney injurytubular injuryFanconi syndromefoods with functional claims
spellingShingle Kiyotaka Uchiyama
Masako Otani
Naoki Chigusa
Kazuya Sugita
Ryosuke Matsuoka
Koji Hosoya
Mina Komuta
Jun Ito
Naoki Washida
Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two Cases
Kidney Medicine
Red yeast rice
kidney injury
tubular injury
Fanconi syndrome
foods with functional claims
title Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two Cases
title_full Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two Cases
title_fullStr Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two Cases
title_full_unstemmed Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two Cases
title_short Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Red Yeast Rice (Beni-kōji) Supplement: A Report of Two Cases
title_sort acute kidney injury associated with red yeast rice beni koji supplement a report of two cases
topic Red yeast rice
kidney injury
tubular injury
Fanconi syndrome
foods with functional claims
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590059524001195
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