Red Rice Yeast is an all-natural whole food powder made from dried fermented rice, with a remarkable ability to lower LDL-cholesterol levels with minimal side effects. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study at UCLA, a dose of 2.4 grams of red yeast rice powder per day decreased LDL-cholesterol by 18% after 8 weeks 1. Similar studies conducted in China with a more concentrated form of the same product resulted in decreases in LDL-cholesterol of up to 32% after 8 weeks 2, 3. Pretty impressive results for a nutraceutical, you’d have to agree.

What’s more, beni-koji (Japanese red yeast rice) has shown clinical benefit in treating high blood pressure in humans in a double-blind study versus placebo 9.

But the most important feature of dietary red yeast rice, from the point of view of the present discussion, is the ability of some varieties to decrease elevated serum triglycerides, i.e., fats, as well as LDL (“bad”) cholesterol while leaving unaffected or even increasing HDL (“good”) cholesterol 1, 2, 3, 10. The fungi responsible for the cholesterol-lowering effects are M. anka 10 and M. purpureus Went 1, 2, 3. (Went was the Dutch scientist who first isolated the Monascus species named for him from fermented rice just over a century ago in Indonesia.) These fungi and related species can produce a series of compounds known as monacolins, of which the most famous is monacolin K, the acid form of lovastatin. Like lovastatin and other statin drugs, all monacolins inhibit the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase which catalyzes a key step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol.

By the way, protection from cardiovascular disease is only one of many benefits of red yeast rice consumption. A Chinese study demonstrated that red yeast rice extract decreased insulin and blood glucose levels in a group of Type II diabetics 16. Since Type II diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance, it appears that red yeast rice can increase insulin sensitivity in diabetics, even in subjects without high lipid levels. Other exciting applications for red yeast rice are suggested by recent discoveries that lovastatin and other statin drugs may be useful for treating or preventing cancer 17, osteoporosis 18, 19, stroke 20, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias 21, 22, 23, and macular degeneration 24.

Red yeast rice should be used cautiously. It is not recommended for use by pregnant women, by anyone with a liver disorder, or by those taking other cholesterol-lowering medications simultaneously. The use of statin drugs such as lovastatin can sometimes lead to side effects including myopathy (muscle dysfunction) and liver toxicity. Side effects including muscle pain and fatigue may also occur with red yeast rice if consumed at sufficiently high doses. For this reason an incremental dose schedule is suggested, at least at first. Try increasing the dose of red yeast rice gradually from 1 to 4 capsules per day, and halt and reduce the dosage in the event any adverse symptoms arise. Since all HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors also interfere with coenzyme Q10 production, it is advisable to supplement with CoQ10 on a daily basis. According to a report from the National Cancer Institute, supplementing with CoQ10 can prevent the occurrence of myopathy induced by lovastatin 25. Even for those taking CoQ10 with red yeast rice, however, any symptoms of muscle pain or weakness should be brought to the immediate attention of one’s health care professional.

$12.00size/dose: 600mg x 120cps