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Does Red Yeast Rice Lower LDL Cholesterol?

With high cholesterol being one of the leading risk factors for coronary artery disease, it isn't surprising that people would be seeking ways to lower their cholesterol. However, it might not be some new drug that is needed but something that has been around for centuries called red yeast rice. It's natural and won't cause the side effects drugs can cause.

  1. Cholesterol

    • Not all cholesterol is bad. Understanding which is which can help you make better lifestyle choices. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in blood lipids. It helps form cell membranes and some hormones. Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. Lipoproteins have to transport cholesterol. LDL cholesterol tends to clog arteries, while HDL cholesterol is an effective transporter of cholesterol. In blood tests, both types of cholesterol are measured individually and added together. Your doctor won't be concerned if your HDL is high, only if the LDL is.

    Red Yeast Rice

    • Red yeast rice has been used as a medication in China for centuries. It comes from a fungus that grows on rice and contains compounds that slow production of cholesterol in the liver. The reason it does this is because one of the compounds is monacolin K, a natural form of lovastatin. Red yeast rice acts as a low dose of lovastatin. Some researchers believe there are other cholesterol-lowering factors in the rice that haven't been discovered yet.

    Popularity

    • One of the annoying side effects of statin medications can be muscle pains. Because of this, many statin medicine users have begun using red yeast rice to lower their cholesterol. In 2006, $17 million was spent on red yeast rice in America, a 55 percent increase over the year before.

    Validation

    • A study published in the June 15, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Physicians looked at 62 patients who experienced muscle pain while taking statins. Instead of the medication, half of the patients were given 1,800 mg of red yeast rice daily for 24 weeks. The other half were given a placebo. They were also exposed to a Mediterranean diet, engaged in an exercise program and practiced relaxation techniques. At the end of the study, the group on red yeast rice lowered their LDL by 35 points on average without an increase in muscle pain.

    Precaution

    • Since red yeast rice is a dietary supplement, it is not regulated by the FDA. The potency of red yeast rice pills vary widely depending on the manufacturer. A 2008 analysis by a watchdog group found a potentially toxic ingredient in 4 out of 10 brands of red yeast rice. One of the brands was a store brand for a major pharmacy chain.

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