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Red Yeast Rice - A Statin Alternative?

Red yeast rice can be found as a paste, whole dried grains, or as a ground powder. In these forms, it has been a common food in certain Asian diets.

Red yeast rice supplements are also widely available and have been shown to significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Red yeast rice, in fact, delivers a statin, the same active compound found in cholesterol-lowering medications. It is a natural source of lovastatin, not a statin alternative. Lovastatin is sold by Merck, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

For those preferring natural statin source, red yeast rice can be a legitimate option, but here is what you should know. Back in 1999, when clinical studies were done on the efficacy of red yeast rice, supplement manufacturers could test and control for the statin-like compound. Since statins are prescription drugs manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, the FDA determined that controlling for the active ingredient in red yeast rice changed the supplement classification to a prescription drug status.

Supplement companies that have continued to market red yeast rice supplements have avoided regulatory issues by refraining from the tests and controls they previously conducted. Today, the active levels in these supplements have been found to vary widely across the various brands.

Like any statin, red yeast rice supplements also can have side effects. According to the FDA, “Red yeast rice products are a threat to health because lovastatin can cause severe muscle problems leading to kidney impairment. This risk is greater in patients who take higher doses of lovastatin or who take lovastatin and other medicines that increase the risk of muscle adverse reactions. These medicines include the antidepressant nefazodone, certain antibiotics, drugs used to treat fungal infections and HIV infections, and other cholesterol-lowering medications.”

Quick Insight: Rather than being an alternative to statins, red yeast rice should be considered as a naturally derived source for them. If you choose to use red yeast rice supplements, work with your healthcare team to assess results. As noted, many people are finding considerable success in lowering cholesterol with red yeast rice supplement --- particularly when coupled with other natural cholesterol lowering nutrients like plant sterols and soluble fibers from oats, beans, barley, psylllium and fruit. Take care to monitor any potential side effects.