Red yeast rice is exactly what it sounds like. A yeast that grows on rice, this ancient Asian ingredient already contains a statin-like compound: monacolin K. Monacolin K is a natural form of the cholesterol-lowering drug, lovastatin. While statins play an important role in lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease, they also have some undesirable side effects, such as muscle pain and elevated liver enzymes. In some people, these symptoms can become so troublesome that they discontinue their statin therapy.
Roughly 62 people with high cholesterol, who had a previous history of discontinuing statin therapy, participated in the study. Half of these individuals took 6 red yeast rice tablets (600 mg each) and the other half took a placebo. Additionally, everyone in the study received instruction on how therapeutic lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet, could also lower cholesterol. At the end of the 6 month study, it was discovered that the individuals who had received the red yeast rice tablets saw a reduction of LDL cholesterol by an average of 27%!
But buyer beware! Although these results look pretty impressive, it's important to note that they researchers in this study knew the exact amount in each tablet given to the participants in the study. In the real world, this is rare. Unfortunately, red yeast rice products are not considered to be a "drug" by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that, while the FDA will ensure that the product is manufactured in a safe and clean facility, it does not regulate the amount of active ingredients -- like monacolin K -- contained in each red yeast rice product. Therefore, you could be getting more or less than what is stated on the label. This could mean the difference between wasting your money on sugar pills to costing you your health.
So, if you are interested in trying red yeast rice supplements to lower your cholesterol, talk it over with your healthcare provider first. Like statins, monacolin K has the potential to interact with other medications you may be taking. If any of you are already taking red yeast rice for lowering your cholesterol, let us know what your experiences have been with the product in the comments section.
