Red Yeast Rice - July 2009

Did  you know….

Red Yeast Rice can help lower cholesterol?

Red yeast rice is a centuries-old natural product, made by growing yeast on rice. It has been used in Asian countries for more than a thousand years as food and medicine. In the United States and Europe, it has been proposed as an alternative cholesterol-lowering treatment for people who cannot take statins because of severe side effects related to those drugs, such as muscle pain and weakness. Red yeast rice is essentially the same compound as the drug lovastatin, but is less potent than the prescription drug.

A new study tested red yeast rice in patients who were not able to tolerate statins due to muscle side effects.  All 62 study participants were put on a lifestyle program that included education on nutrition, exercise and relaxation techniques.  Half of the participants were given red yeast rice twice a day, and the other half were given placebo. 

The average drop in LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) in the red yeast rice group was 43 points after 3 months.  The placebo group dropped 11 points.  Total cholesterol levels were also significantly improved in the red yeast rice group. 

What does CPC recommend?

High cholesterol is a powerfully negative contributor to the development of heart disease, and it is important that you know what your cholesterol levels are, and take action to improve them if needed.  It is important to note that lovastatin (Mevacor®), pravastatin (Pravachol®) and simvastatin (Zocor®) are now available as generic medications often for less than 5 dollars a month. These drugs are carefully regulated by the FDA whereas supplements like red yeast rice are not. If you choose to try this over-the-counter supplement because you have experienced muscle side effects from statin drugs, recognize that it may be more costly than prescription lovastatin. Very importantly, please be sure to talk to your doctor first before starting this supplement, or any other supplement or medication.  Also, buy the supplement from a reliable manufacturer as some supplements do not contain consistent dosages of the ingredient. In the noted study, participants took 1800 mg of red yeast rice twice a day.  The active dose of lovastatin in the red yeast rice was only 6 mg/day, but the cholesterol lowering was unexpectedly high. Future studies are needed to confirm this trial. Finally, remember that healthy food choices, exercise and relaxation also improve cholesterol, as shown in this study by the group that did not get the red yeast rice. 

The study cited above is:

Ram Y. Gordon, M.D., physician, Flourtown, Pa.; Paul S. Phillips, M.D., director, interventional cardiology, Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego; June 16, 2009, Annals of Internal Medicine