What Are the Benefits of Chinese Red Yeast Rice?

For thousands of years, red yeast rice has been a source of food in many Asian countries. It is readily available in the U.S. as a food staple, but as a dietary supplement red yeast rice is strictly controlled by the Food and Drug Administration.

Controlling Cholesterol

• As a dietary supplement, red yeast rice has recently drawn attention in the U.S. for having the potential to lower cholesterol. It is made by soaking rice in red yeast and fermenting it under controlled conditions. It purportedly contains high levels of lovastatin, a cholesterol-lowering agent, similar to those found in the prescription drug Mevocor, which is strictly regulated by the FDA. However, most red yeast rice dietary supplements have been removed from shelves at health food and general stores because the product has not yet been approved for medical use by the FDA.

Heart Disease

• Red yeast rice dietary supplements are believed to lower inflammation that is associated with heart disease. Studies in China and the U.S. have shown that the rice is effective in breaking down the particle size of lipoproteins, another risk factor for heart disease. Additionally, the supplement helps protect the lining of the blood vessels, keeping them healthy and functional.

Increasing Life Span

• In a report by The American Journal of Cardiology, the benefits of red yeast rice as compared with a placebo were the subject of a study involving 4,500 patients over four years. The study clearly demonstrated that eating red yeast rice decreased the incidence of heart attack and death, increasing the life span of users.

Diabetes

• Red yeast rice has also been seen as potentially beneficial to those suffering with diabetes. Studies are under way to determine whether the supplement can help reduce diabetes symptoms and improve the quality of life for those with the disease.