Red Mold, Diabetes, and Oxidative Stress: a Review

Type 2 diabetes is a major health concern and arapidly growing disease with a modern etiology, whichproduces significant morbidity and mortality. The optimalmanagement of type 2 diabetes aims to control hyperglycemia,hypertension, and dyslipidemia to reduce overall risks.Diabetes and its complications usually develop as oxidativestress increases.Monascus-fermented rice, also called redmold rice or red mold dioscorea are used in China to enhancefood color and flavor. Red mold-fermented products are popularhealth foods that are considered to have antiobesity,antifatigue, antioxidation, and cancer prevention effects. Thisreview article describes theantidiabetic and antioxidativestress effects on humans and animals of red mold-fermentedproducts or their secondary metabolites.